Wikipedia

Johann van Graan

Johann Christoffel van Graan (born 18 March 1980) is a South African rugby union coach, currently the head coach for Bath.

Johann van Graan
Van Graan in 2024
Birth nameJohann Christoffel van Graan
Date of birth (1980-03-18) 18 March 1980 (age 44)
SchoolAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, Pretoria
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Coaching career
Years Team
2012–2017 South Africa (Forwards coach)
2017–2022 Munster (Head coach)
2022– Bath (Head coach)

Coaching career

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Van Graan did not have a top level playing career. With a family background in rugby, he showed very strong interest in analysis from an early age.[1]

2004–2011 : Bulls and Blue Bulls

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Van Graan started as a technical adviser for the Blue Bulls rugby team, initially working with their Vodacom Cup team,[2] before moving into the same role with their Currie Cup team[3] and the Bulls Super Rugby (then known as Super 14) team. He moved into a role as the teams' forwards and attack coach, helping the Bulls win three Super 14 titles in 2007 (under head coach Heyneke Meyer) and 2009 and 2010 (under Frans Ludeke).[4][5]

2012–2017 : South Africa

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He joined the Springboks coaching setup in 2012 as a technical adviser, where he again linked up with Heyneke Meyer. He became known for his attention to detail, utilising video analysis, and soon saw his role progressed to that of forwards coach. In the coaching restructure post-2015 Rugby World Cup, Van Graan was the only member of the coaching team to survive, and he continued in his role under new Springboks head coach Allister Coetzee.[6]

2017–2022 : Munster

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In October 2017, it was confirmed that Van Graan would be leaving South Africa to join Irish Pro14 side Munster as their new head coach. He replaced outgoing Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus, who was returning to South Africa.[7][8][9] His first game with Munster was a 36–19 win away to Zebre in the Pro14 on 26 November 2017, although he officially took charge of the side the day after.[10] He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster and the IRFU in April 2019.[11] Van Graan left Munster upon the conclusion of the 2021–22 season.[12]

2022-Present : Bath

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Van Graan joined English Premiership club Bath on a long-term contract from the 2022–23 season.[13] Van Graan was originally set to be working under Stuart Hooper, who had been Director of Rugby since 2019. However, after Bath's historic 64-0 loss to rivals Gloucester Rugby near the end of the 2021-22 season, Hooper was transitioned from Director of Rugby to the new role of General Manager, with Van Graan becoming Head of Rugby for the 2022-23 campaign.[14]

Coming in after one of the worst seasons in the club's history, Van Graan turned Bath around. The team's improvement in form over the course of the campaign culminated with a 4 match winning streak at seasons end. A 61-29 thrashing of Saracens on the final day saw them edge neighbours and rivals Bristol Bears for eighth in the table and a place in the 2023-24 Champions Cup.[15]

In his second season in charge, Bath's improvement continued. In Europe, Bath reached the knockout stages of the Champions Cup for the first time since 2015, advancing to the Round of 16. With Bath sitting 3rd in the Premiership with just two games remaining in the regular season, Van Graan signed a new six-year contract with the club, committing his long-term future until the end of the 2029-30 campaign.[16] Bath finished the regular season in 2nd place, their highest finish since 2015. After defeating Sale Sharks in the semi-final, his side were defeated by Northampton Saints in the 2023-2024 Premiership Final by a score of 25-21.[17]

Personal life

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He is the son of Barend van Graan,[6] the long-serving CEO of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "SuperSport".
  2. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Johann van Graan". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Pote to coach Blue Bulls". News24. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Van Graan to take over at Bulls?". Sport24. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Johann van Graan appointed Munster head coach". RTÉ. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Insider: Johann van Graan". SuperSport. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Munster Rugby Head Coach Appointment". Munster Rugby. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Johann van Graan confirmed as new Munster head coach". Irish Times. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Munster confirm Johann van Graan to take over as head coach". The42. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Pro14: Zebre 19-36 Munster". BBC Sport. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Johann van Graan Commits To Munster Rugby". Munster Rugby. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Munster Rugby Confirm Johann van Graan Departure At End Of Season". Munster Rugby. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Bath confirm Van Graan signing after Munster boss invoked release clause". The42. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Bath change it up again, altering Hooper role and axing Griffiths". RugbyPass. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  15. ^ "New Premiership season: How Johann van Graan has rebuilt Bath over past 18 months". BBC. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Johann van Graan commits long-term future to Bath | Bath Rugby". www.bathrugby.com. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Alex Mitchell try earns Northampton title as 14-man Bath are denied". The Guardian. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Van Graan to be Bulls CEO". IOL. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
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