Van Graan makes his second in situ signing as Bath head of rugby

New Bath head of rugby Johan van Graan has made his second acquisition as in situ head coach. The South African landed in Bath last week and has signed up Namibia prop Aranos Coetzee as injury cover from 1 August 2022.

Van Graan has already of course been involved in the signing of Chris Cloete and Matt Gallagher, both of whom he has brought with him from Munster. Earlier in the week Bath signed GJ van Velze, a ‘player who can play multiple positions across the back five of the scrum, including Number 8 and second row’.

Coetzee is a recruit from the Cheetahs, who have become a regular raided club by European sides. The 6’1, 123kg prop provides an option at tighthead with D’Arcy Rae currently rehabilitating from injury.

“Aranos offers fantastic experience in an important position,” Head of rugby van Graan said. “He is a very talented scrummager and is another who will bring a great amount of knowledge to our squad.”

Coetzee has European experience having plied his trade in France for Racing 92 and Brive over a five-year period before returning to South Africa in 2015, shortly after appearing at the Rugby World Cup that year.

The 34-year-old was awarded the Cheetahs’ 2017 Super Rugby Player of the Year for his outstanding contributions up front, and two years later he appeared at his second World Cup with Namibia.

For his country, 25-time capped Coetzee has contributed to five Rugby Africa Cup titles, the latest coming via a 36-0 win over Kenya at the start of July.