Johann van Graan is building his Bath Rugby squad ahead of the 2026/27 season
John Evely Sports Writer
09:24, 14 Jan 2026
Bath Rugby looked to have bolstered their number eight stocks ahead of the 2026/27 campaign by signing six-capped Springboks number Dan du Preez from Sale Sharks.
Du Preez, 30, was on the verge of re-signing with his former club, the Durban-based United Rugby Championship side The Sharks, who are seeking a replacement for Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, but the Blue, Black and White have swooped in to keep the powerhouse backrower in the Gallagher PREM, according to widespread reports.
Bath currently have Alfie Barbeary, Jaco Coetzee and Arthur Green as their frontline specialist number eighths, but Coetzee has endured a torrid run of injuries in recent years and is out for at least the rest of the season with his second ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Exeter Chiefs have been strongly linked with a move to bring England A international Will Butt to Sandy Park next season as Rob Baxter looks to bolster his midfield with Wallabies star Len Ikitau having only signed a 9-month deal with the club.
Powerful inside centre Will Grigg is also expected to be unveiled as a Newcastle Red Bulls player ahead of the 2026/27 season, leaving Baxter in need of recruits. Butt came through the Bath academy, recently captained the side, and has performed well when he has been given his opportunities for last season’s treble winners, but with Bath fielding an international-packed midfield with Cam Redpath, Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh all vying for places in the starting XV, and Louie Hennessey coming through, Butt has had to be patient.
RugbyPass also reports that Baxter has sounded out Bath full back Tom de Glanville about a move to Devon, having lost his starter Josh Hodge to big spending Newcastle Red Bulls ahead of next season. De Glanville, 26, has been knocked down the pecking order at the Recreation Ground after Argentina star Santi Carreras arrived from Gloucester in the summer, but he is reported to be on the verge of signing a new deal at his hometown club.
Despite added competition on the wings, with Henry Arundell having arrived in the summer from Racing 92 and hit the ground running, and fellow England international Will Muir now back from injury, giant winger Joe Cokanasiga, 28, is also reported to be on the verge of committing himself to another season at the Recreation Ground having joining the club in 2018 from London Irish.
There is reported to be mixed news in terms of retention in the front row, with England and British and Irish Lions star Will Stuart reported to have turned down offers to move to France to sign a new contract, but regular loosehead Francois van Wyke is set to join Connacht when his contract expires in June.
With Bath also losing Thomas du Toit, who regularly plays on both sides of the scrum, to the Sharks next season, van Graan is reported to be on the hunt for reinforcements at loosehead.
Discussing recruitment this week, van Graan said: "I think one of the things we've done exceptionally well the last few years is our retention. Retaining our players becomes more and more difficult because they're playing such good rugby. It's a fascinating market. It's something I enjoy and it's something that I've got my eyes wide open in. As I said, you've got the day-to-day, the week-to-week, the games, but part of my role is to look at the bigger picture as well. It's a nice challenge every single day and it's something that I enjoy.”