"Hollie had an excellent game" - Bath coach van Graan defends Challenge Cup Final referee following criticism

Despite how compelling Bath were in their convincing victory, that was an unfortunate amount of attention surrounding the Challenge Cup Final match officials. Bath dropped down to 13 players for a brief five minute stint of lung-busting defensive work, as back row Sam Underhill and wing Will Muir were sent to the sin bin for back-to-back first half offenses.

It was Underhill's hit that garnered the heaviest scrutiny, as the England international clashed heads with Georgian fullback David Niniashvilli, before Muir collided with a mid-air wing Ethan Dumortier. Lyon OU head coach Karim Ghezal expressed how he would "never complain about refereeing", but he did say; "they (Bath) had two yellow cards, and one of them was dodgy", heavily implying how Underhill's hit was worthy of red card dismissal.

Bath head coach Johann van Graan was then asked his thoughts on the match official's performances, and the South African gave a concise answer with full respect for Scottish referee Hollie Davidson, and the assistant pairing of Italy's Gianluca Gnecchi and Ireland's Eoghan Cross. It was a milestone match for Davidson, who became the first female referee to officiate a major EPCR final.

"I think Hollie (Davidson) had an excellent game. As we said, after last year's final many games to be played in any season. The decision is this decision of the officials. So I certainly will stick with what the officials decide on the pitch."

Pivoting away from the decisions that dominated the analysis, van Graan turned his focus to the accomplishment that his side has just achieved. The triumph over Lyon marked Bath's first Challenge Cup title since 2008, with two thirds of their trophy trilogy complete for the 2024/25 season. Bath are now double-champions following their Premiership Rugby Cup title win back in March, with their sights set on the incoming Premiership play-offs having secured the top spot ahead of the last weekend of the season.

"This trophy, as I said yesterday afternoon, you don't become a champion when you win a trophy, you're a champion every day of your life." van Graan put rather poignantly. This group of players, this group of staff are champions. Why? Because they want to get better, because they keep things on the inside, we speak about this train journey. We start every season with a group, and then at the end, we stop, we say goodbye to certain people, we start a new one and this is our third one.

"So, this is a moment in time, we'll enjoy tonight. We'll enjoy what this trophy represents, incredible hard work by a lot of people, and then we'll come back on Tuesday morning and they'll move on again. So we're not chasing anything. We are enjoying our journey together."

Johann van Graan was joined in the post-match press conference by his captain and scrum half Ben Spencer, who shared in the significance of Bath's title triumph. Spencer expressed how the 80 minutes flew by, as Bath commanded the attacking attrition. Whilst Spencer was impressed by his side's abrasiveness on the front foot, it was their ability to keep a tight-ship whilst down to 13 men that he praised from a mentality stand-point.

"The game's a bit of a blur. I was absolutely shattered coming off the pitch. I don't really want to speak about individual stuff, I want to talk about the group and what we've been through. We started in the Champions Cup and came into this competition. But we went away to France, we won. We beat Gloucester at the Rec, and then we went to Edinburgh and had an unbelievably tough battle there. Then we came here and played against a very good Lyon side, who don't lose a lot, and tonight's performance was something that's been building for a very long time.

"To see the hunger, to see the fight of this group tonight was unbelievable, the way we managed the the double yellow card period to keep them out, and Ted Hill's shot at the end of the first half, that's the fight and the spirit that we want to show each other. I can be proud of to leave this group tonight. For Dunny (Tom Dunn), and Charlie (Ewels) who have been at this club for a lot longer than I have, you know, to give these boys a major trophy is unbelievable."

Whilst the blue, black and whites will rightfully enjoy the rest of the weekend as they bring the silverware back to Somerset, next week marks the beginning for their final objective of the season. Bath have the Premiership title in their sights with a home semi-final already confirmed at the Rec - Spencer expressed how he will bring his side 'back to zero', when they gather for a fresh week of training at Farleigh House.

"Johann spoke about it there. It's like these moments don't come around very often, and you have to enjoy it. You have to embrace it, we've worked hard for this trophy. So we've got to enjoy the next few days and spend time together and love every minute, we'll focus on what's to come on Tuesday.

"This group is unbelievably hungry to get better, and I've no doubt on Tuesday we'll be back to zero, which is something that we speak about all the time. And the next job is Sarries (Saracens) next week, but for the time being, it's about getting back in the changing room and spending time together, and enjoying having this (Challenge Cup trophy) in our company."

Spencer signed off the press conference with a touching gesture to Bath's Premiership rivals, as he wished Northampton Saints the best of luck for today's Investec Champions Cup Final against Bordeaux-Begles.

"Just lastly, I think on behalf of our group, we want to wish Northampton the best for tomorrow. I hope they can get it done for English rugby. Their belief to get it done against Leinster was unbelievable. So I think from behalf of us, I think they can hopefully get it done tomorrow. So good luck to them."