Fri Sep 20 07:31:48 UTC 2024: ## Bath Rugby Eyeing Trophy Glory After Near Miss
Bath Rugby head coach Johann van Graan has declared that while the club is hungry for a trophy, they are not putting pressure on themselves to win one this season. The team finished runners-up in last year’s Premiership final after a dramatic match against Northampton Saints, their first appearance in the final since 1996.
Despite their close call, Van Graan insists that the focus remains on building upon the progress made since he took charge in 2022. The majority of last season’s squad has been retained, with the addition of just four new players. Van Graan emphasizes that the internal pressure to excel is the driving force behind their ambition.
“Obviously we want to win a trophy,” Van Graan told BBC Radio Somerset. “We’ve never said that we don’t want to. But we are not in the [business of] predicting when this will happen.”
Captain Ben Spencer echoed his coach’s sentiment, acknowledging the pride felt from reaching the final last season, but emphasizing their desire to go one step further.
“To get to the final was great and it was a special day but I think we’re definitely looking to go one step further this year,” Spencer said. “You always set out at the start of the season wanting to win silverware.”
With a relatively unchanged squad and a strong finish to last season, Bath are poised for another strong campaign. Their opening match pits them against their final opponents, Northampton Saints, at the Recreation Ground on Friday.
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