Advertisement
Johann van Graan has signed a long-term deal with Bath. Alamy Stock Photo

Former Munster boss Johann van Graan signs new Bath deal until 2030

The 44-year-old arrived at the Premiership club in 2022.

FORMER MUNSTER BOSS Johann van Graan has committed his long-term future to Bath after signing a new deal until 2030.

The 44-year-old arrived at the Premiership club in 2022 and guided his new side to Champions Cup qualification in his first season.

Bath are currently challenging for the play-offs with just two games remaining of the regular season, having reached the knockout stage of Europe’s elite rugby competition for the first time since 2015.

“I’m proud to be committing my future to this historic club in blue, black and white and I am loving the journey we are on,” Van Graan said.

“Rugby is about people, purpose, creating memories and making a difference and my family and I are looking forward to our future in Bath.

“I’d like to acknowledge and thank the board, staff, players, and supporters who, together, make Farleigh House and The Rec such special places. We are creating a unique culture with purpose, and we are in, all in, all the time.”

Author
View 18 comments
Close
18 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Observer
    Favourite Observer
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 11:40 AM

    What a bluffer

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Murray
    Favourite Michael Murray
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 11:49 AM

    @Observer: ….he was never my favourite, but is that not a bit harsh? Expand please!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Ryan
    Favourite Simon Ryan
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 12:20 PM

    @Michael Murray: I dunno Michael I suppose it has something to do with the fact that he played puke rugby when at Munster, blooded no youngsters and screwed up a glorious chance at a Heineken cup against racing in a semifinal where he sent the team out with a poor tactical plan.

    We are now paying for this by having to bring through a whole crop of new players while hoping that the old guard of O’Mahony et al will hang around and give the club enough time to do it.

    37
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Fitz
    Favourite John Fitz
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 12:34 PM

    @Observer: I think bluffer is harsh. He has done a decent enough job at Bath.
    Just think he was really poor fit for Munster.
    Clearly wanted to play a gameplan that in no way fit the players he had available.
    The quotes in SA rugby around him bringing in Jenkin to try gey Munsters ‘power game’ going, shows he was alway going to need imports and continue to ignore youth development. Was never going to work in an IRFU system.
    He will possibly find success in Bath where he can buy the team he wants

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cormac O'Hare
    Favourite Cormac O'Hare
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 2:43 PM

    @Simon Ryan: he blooded plenty of young players, a huge chunk of whom now make up the backbone of the current team. Deserves a lot of credit for steadying the ship after the freefall of Axel and the chaos when Rassie upped sticks.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute chris mcdonnell
    Favourite chris mcdonnell
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 2:52 PM

    @John Fitz: his idea of a young player is a 28 year old. He really stunted munster, just look at the quality coming through these days compared to his years.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry Hickey
    Favourite Barry Hickey
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 5:30 PM

    @John Fitz: JvG was so far out of his depth at Munster. His “plan” was a bad attempt to mimic Rassie. Ugly rugby but a smart coach executing the plan. JvG was an average coach executing a reductive plan to no effect. One Pro14 final he literally gave up on a one score game vs Leinster and took off both Murray & Carberry with 10 mins left

    He played the kicking game, lost the first 70 mins and would be down 2 or 3 scores. The players on field would decide, let’s have phases without kicking and try offloads, would claw their way back & make the score look tight

    Then in the next knock-out fixture, he’d roll out the same plan. I’m annoyed at senior players for this as I’d have thought they would say f*ck it let’s try doing this for 60 not 15 mins and play territory with a lead not when losing

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe O'Regan
    Favourite Joe O'Regan
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 12:52 PM

    I think the problem a lot of Munster fans had with him is he never seemed to want to be there from day one.

    He was a makeweight in Rassie and Nienbar’s return to South Africa. He wanted to stay in the South African set up and didn’t want to go to Munster.

    He gave the outward impression that he didn’t care after serving his notice and had to say publicly he did. That season was a complete write off.

    Rowntree is far from perfect but he is a much better fit. He understands the Munster culture because Leicester is a similar type of club.

    He enthusiastically put himself forward for the Munster job. Said all the right things like he and his family were really happy in limerick and committed to staying in limerick.

    That leads to a stronger rapport with the fans. Even though the Rowntree era has being a bit of a rollercoaster ride to date the fans cut him more slack cos outwardly he says all the right things.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute S. Hurley
    Favourite S. Hurley
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 1:33 PM

    @Joe O’Regan: Rowntree is as close to perfect as Munster can realistically get. Really suits the culture and already won us a trophy

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Petter Sellberg
    Favourite Petter Sellberg
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 1:50 PM

    @S. Hurley: …and importantly bloods youngsters. That’s such an important part of the long term success of a club. Personally I think that was JCGs main flaw. There’s nothing more damaging for a club than the lack of youth development

    18
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute S. Hurley
    Favourite S. Hurley
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 3:03 PM

    @Petter Sellberg: exactly

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mecko daly
    Favourite mecko daly
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 12:32 PM

    He always seemed to be out of his depth with Munster, however seems to have turned Bath into a good attacking team.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcdb06
    Favourite mcdb06
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 1:38 PM

    @mecko daly: Finn Russell has turned them into a good attacking team. They were brutal last season.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justin Robinson
    Favourite Justin Robinson
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 3:09 PM

    @mcdb06: I imagine Lee Blackett has had quite a bit to do with it too.

    5
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 7:55 PM

    @mecko daly: Monet talks… good with a ‘budget’

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Bingham
    Favourite Sam Bingham
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 3:21 PM

    He is a spoofer. Has been given a huge check book and has benefitted from other team’s players that went into administration. Finn and his support coaching staff have been the difference for Bath and I think a contract until 2030 is mental.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane O Hanrahan
    Favourite Shane O Hanrahan
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 2:46 PM

    They are welcome to him..

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Kenny
    Favourite Stephen Kenny
    Report
    May 2nd 2024, 1:29 PM

    Fake coach

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel