Bath Rugby’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, has detailed the club’s aspirations and strategic plans for the upcoming 2026/27 season, as they prepare to compete across three major competitions.
Following a remarkable 2024/25 season that saw the team secure a historic treble, the Blue, Black and White faced a challenging 2025/26 campaign that ended without silverware, suffering defeats in three semi-finals. Despite this setback, van Graan remains optimistic, citing a strong and stable squad with minimal senior departures over the summer.
Van Graan emphasised the importance of maintaining a competitive position in the Gallagher Premiership, setting securing a place in the Premiership play-offs as the club’s primary objective. He also highlighted the ambition to contend strongly for the Investec Champions Cup title, describing it as the “big dream” for the season ahead.
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“We know who we are and understand that we’re on a journey. Our goal is to perform at our best in every competition,” said van Graan in a recent club interview. “For the Premiership, our aim is to reach the knockout stages once again. We’re proud of having hosted three consecutive home semi-finals and we want to continue that proud tradition.”
Bath’s extensive squad of 75 players will allow van Graan to approach the Premiership Rugby Cup as a development platform. “Our focus in the Premiership Rugby Cup is to develop as many players as possible,” he added. This competition will also provide opportunities for emerging coaching talent, with Mark Lilley and Ryan Davis taking charge during the respective blocks.
“Coach development is just as important as player development for us. Giving exposure to our younger coaches and maintaining balance for senior staff throughout the season is key,” van Graan explained. “We want everyone at the club to become the best version of themselves.”
Looking ahead to the Champions Cup, van Graan acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the tournament but underlined Bath’s determination to progress beyond the pool stages. Competing in Pool 4, Bath will face formidable opposition in Cardiff, Montpellier, the Bulls, Stade Français, and Northampton Saints – the latter being the other English representative in the group.
“The Champions Cup is highly competitive and unpredictable, but we will assess our position after every round and strive to give our very best,” he stated.
Van Graan also spoke candidly about the numerous challenges and variables that arise over the course of a season. “Success isn’t just about trophies. It’s about how our players and staff improve on and off the field, how we adapt to significant changes in the game laws, and how we respond to setbacks like injuries or unexpected results,” he said.
As the season unfolds, Bath Rugby aims to navigate the demanding 45-week campaign with resilience and passion, hoping to secure another Premiership play-off spot and make a deep run in the Champions Cup. “Ultimately, we want to enjoy every moment of the season,” van Graan concluded.