Bath Rugby - From “Club with No Hope” to Premiership Champions – A Historic Treble Achieved!

This momentous victory not only secured their first league title since 1996 but also completed a historic treble for Johann van Graan’s side, adding the Premiership Rugby Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup to their trophy cabinet this season.

The final was a captivating encounter, played in the extreme heat and humidity at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Leicester started the game strongly, with Jack van Poortvliet crossing for an early try. However, Bath, who had topped the Premiership table with an impressive 14 wins from 18 games, steadily asserted their dominance.

Tries from the powerful Thomas du Toit and the scintillating Max Ojomoh, either side of halftime, put Bath in a commanding position.

The orchestrator of much of Bath’s attacking prowess was the mercurial Finn Russell. The Scotland fly-half, despite some early frustrations during the game, kicked 13 crucial points and provided a moment of pure brilliance with an incredible interception that led to Ojomoh’s try. His tactical kicking and game management were instrumental in navigating Bath through a nervy final quarter as Leicester mounted a spirited comeback with tries from Solomone Kata and Emeka Ilione.

But it was not to be for Leicester, who also saw Dan Cole in his final professional game of Rugby  sin-binned in the 70^th minute, for a late tackle on Russell which essentially sealed a historic  victory for Bath.

It has not been an easy journey for Johann van Graan since he took the helm in July 2022.

Van Graan famously referred to Bath as “a club with no hope” when he first arrived which in 2022 he saw his Bath side finish bottom of the Premiership. So this miraculous treble is the culmination of a remarkable journey, for the South African. He has now transformed them into a formidable force in English rugby.

The 2024-2025 season has been a testament to the Bath resurgence.

 Their dominant league performance saw them finish at the top of the Premiership table, earning them a home semi-final against local rivals Bristol Bears. In a powerful second-half display, Bath overcame Bristol 34-20, securing their place as the favourites in the final.

Along with the Premiership title, Bath’s success in the Premiership Rugby Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup earlier in the season showcased their depth and winning mentality earning them the treble and a place in the history books.