Bath attitude pleases Van Graan going into play-offs

Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan has praised the attitude of his side as they prepare for their third consecutive season in the play-offs.

The defending Prem Rugby champions go into this weekend's semi-final with Exeter Chiefs having been the only team to spend every week of the season inside the league's top four in 2025-26.

Indeed, Van Graan's side have spent every week of the past three seasons inside the play-off positions, a run of 54 matches.

"That is down to the squad and the training," the 46-year-old South African, who took over at The Rec in 2022, told BBC Radio Bristol.

"This game is about players performing, day in, day out. You might win one game, or a few, but we have consistently performed in games, and picked up bonus points in defeats.

"We never reacted to the highs or the lows, and we have never stopped trying to improve - that is exactly what I wanted when I came in four years ago.

"We have a group that continually wants to get better and that is what pleases me the most."

Lock Charlie Ewels, part of the Bath set-up since 2014, also praised the personnel in the squad for the consistency over the past three seasons.

"We always go back to zero to try to improve, and stats like this are evidence we are doing that consistently," he said.

"It's not been the same 15/23 (starters/squad) every weekend in that time, so we are training and aligning, we have had lots of players and people come and go."

Not only have Bath secured a play-off place for the third consecutive season, but it will be their third year in a row playing a semi-final in front of a home crowd at The Rec.

They have won the previous two, defeating Sale in 2024 and Bristol in 2025.

"We made no secret that we wanted that home semi-final," said Ewels. "I thought we played really well against Leicester [in the final game of the regular season] and it was great preparation for knockout rugby.

"Now we have another opportunity to play in front of our supporters. This is the pitch we play on the most and the ground we are most familiar with. You can sleep in your own bed and continue your normal routine.

"There have been good times and bad times during my time here, and it means more to me to give back to the fans. I have seen the same fans there when things were not so good, as are there now."

Team news for Saturday's game will be released on Friday, with Van Graan confirming that Quinn Roux and Tom Dunn will be available for selection following recent suspensions.