Bath boss Johann van Graan unlikely to be tempted by Blue Bulls homecoming
It is believed that Van Graan was included on a well-known four-man shortlist for the Bulls’ open head coaching
position.
Bath Rugby is certain Johann van Graan won’t be influenced by a dream comeback to his childhood team, the Blue
Bulls, and will continue to lead the Gallagher Premiership winners in rugby for 2025–2026 and beyond.
The South African, who was raised in Loftus Versfeld, where his father Barend served as CEO until 2019 after being a
member of the team since 1983, is reportedly on a four-man shortlist to succeed Jake White, who left the United
Rugby Championship team last week after the board reviewed the season following their loss to Leinster in the
league final. Although the team’s performance on the pitch remained competitive, there was apparently significant
dissatisfaction among the players.
with fellow South Africans Johann Ackermann, Franco Smith, and Jacques Nienaber. He recently led Bath to a treble
of trophies in 2024–2025, ending a 17-year wait for silverware at the English club.
But of the four men, van Graan, who was a ball boy at the Bulls as child before Heyneke Meyer handed him his first
role as an analyst at the age of just 16, is locked into the longest contract, having extended his deal with Bath through
to 2030.
Everything van Graan is doing at Bath screams long-term thinking, even while RugbyPass claims that his contract
includes provisions permitting an earlier departure. Finding and nurturing the next generation of players is taking
up as much time and energy for the 45-year-old as winning championships right away. His top priority is creating a
dynasty at the Recreation Ground, something no Premiership coach has been able to accomplish since the Saracens’
pay cap-breaking days.
The position of head coach of the Springboks is the only one that is likely to tempt van Graan to abandon his goal in
the West Country before the year ends. However, it doesn’t seem probable that will alter until after the Rugby World
Cup in 2027.
Although RugbyPass asserts that van Graan’s contract contains clauses allowing for an earlier departure, everything
he is doing at Bath screams long-term thinking. The 45-year-old is devoting as much time and effort to identifying
and developing the next generation of players as he is to immediately winning titles. Since the Saracens’ pay cap-
breaking days, no Premiership coach has been able to establish a dynasty at the Recreation Ground, which is his top
aim.
The only thing that could persuade van Graan to give up on his dream of living in the West Country before the end of
the season is the opportunity to become head coach of the Springboks. That is unlikely to change, though, until after
the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
In the highly unlikely circumstance that van Graan were to leave Bath, who will go into next season as heavy
favourites to defend their Premiership title and with a real opportunity to take a tilt at the Champions Cup as well,
the club have a ready-made replacement Lee Blackett already in the building.
The former Wasps head coach has spent the summer with the England senior side in the same capacity, leading them
to a 35-12 victory on Saturday and a 1-0 series lead over Argentina. He is currently the Blue, Black and White’s backs
and attack coach. But for the time being, van Graan, the architect of Bath’s lofty aspirations, intends to stay here and
leave his mark in the Blue, Black, and White.
Read more news on https://www.sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply