Bath: Captain Ben Spencer has expressed optimism for Bath Rugby’s future, declaring the “sky is the limit” after the team’s remarkable achievement of securing a historic treble, marking their first Premiership trophy in 29 years. The team celebrated their triumph with a hard-fought 23-21 victory against Leicester Tigers at Allianz Stadium Twickenham, adding a league title to their Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup victories earlier in the season.
According to BBC, Spencer, who was appointed captain for the 2022-23 season during Johann van Graan’s tenure as head of rugby, reflected on the team’s transformative journey from finishing at the bottom of the league just a few years ago. He credited Van Graan’s leadership and expressed excitement for the team’s future potential, emphasizing the continuous opportunity for improvement.
Despite a narrow loss to Northampton in the previous year’s showpiece, Bath entered this season as overwhelming favorites, finishing 11 points clear at the top of the league table and securing a home semi-final with three games to spare. Spencer described the final whistle as a moment of relief after the intense build-up and mental preparation leading up to the semi-final.
Van Graan praised the team for achieving the “unthinkable” by winning the league title three years into his leadership. Looking ahead, the squad will disperse for the summer due to international commitments, including the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. However, Van Graan assured that the team’s ambition for further success remains strong, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and strategic alignment during the upcoming pre-season camp in September.
Reflecting on his experiences with the South African club Bulls, Van Graan highlighted the importance of maintaining a mindset of continuous growth and preparation, urging the team to train with the mentality of being in second place to stay ahead of the competition.