The Bath Rugby Column: European Challenge Cup, a shot at silverware?

The commemorative end of season DVD, a staple in football but a rarity in rugby. My friends are baffled when I actually choose to buy DVD's, instead of signing up for a Netflix subscription. Their questioning is probably a sign of the times but I enjoy having the physical copy of films, something I can place on the shelf and play whenever I want to. Numerous top flight football teams release compilation DVD's each year, no matter how well they've played that season. However rugby clubs seem to only be tempted to do so if the club has actually won something that year.

 

The last DVD that Bath Rugby released was in 2008, after the club won the European Challenge Cup. During their high flying 2007/08 season Bath also reached a Premiership semi final, losing to eventual champions London Wasps. A compilation film of that season's best bits, it featured insight from an array of players including Matt Banahan, Lee Mears and Matt Stevens. David Flatman presented the various highlights whilst he strolled around different location in Bath. The DVD's name? Champagne Rugby.

 

Champagne Rugby covered Bath's most successful season for a decade and after ten years without silverware it ended on the club's victorious European challenge cup final. Both Olly Barkley and Steve Borthwick left at the end of the season, with the trophy providing a fitting tribute to their departures especially for the latter who was captain at the time. Steve Meehan's men played some beautiful rugby, receiving praise from fans and pundits alike. Although they continued to play well for the next few seasons silverware alluded them.

 

Nine years on the club are still searching for silverware. Although Bath United were crowned Aviva A league champions in 2013, the first team are still on the hunt. They have frequently come close having reached LV cup semi finals, a European Challenge Cup final and most recently an Aviva Premiership Final. Although they are all experiences players are bound to have learned from that unfortunately the club still has nothing to show for all these efforts.

 

Recently losing to Saracens in front of a hostile Recreation Ground put a serious dent in Mike Ford's dreams of a top six finish. Although still mathematically possible, Bath needed to beat Sarries to stand any real chance of qualifying for the European Rugby Champions Cup. With upcoming fixtures against Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers a string of bonus point victories will be incredibly hard to put together, even for the best of sides. This ultimately means that Bath will probably be playing in European Rugby's second tier competition next year, the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

 

Although it may be disappointing not to be playing Europe's elite, the chance to play in the Challenge Cup might exactly be what the club needs. After a frustrating season for players, fans and coaches alike the cup could offer Bath not only the chance to rotate some of their players but also a legitimate chance at silverware.

 

On Twitter, Jeremy Stewart (@jezstewart1) said: "Have to look at it positively. Chance for silverware, experience for youngsters and less distraction from the league."

 

Tweeter, Henry Windsor (HenryWindsor79) had his say on the prospect of playing in the Challenge Cup, he said: "You reap what you sow I'm afraid. It depends on how serious we take it, very winnable."

 

Winning the Challenge Cup is still quite an achievement, even though it's a second tier competition any success in Europe is impressive. Winning some silverware would simply show that the club are moving in the right direction. After an incredibly frustrating season, a trophy is exactly what the club needs to return positivity to the Rec.

 

On Twitter, Sean Richards (@93swo) said: "A European competition is still a competition. Every chance to do well and win some silverware."

 

Conquering Europe takes time and this shows through sides like Saracens, who have come close but are still yet to have lifted the trophy. Ideally fans would like to see the club challenging on both fronts, but a run in the challenge cup could install confidence and belief back into the set up. This form could then be translated to the Aviva Premiership where Bath could look to really challenge, with the aim of finishing in the top four. Teams that make the top six deserve to be playing in Europe's elite competition, many would argue that Bath's form this season simply doesn't warrant them a place in the Champions Cup.

 

Bath fan Hugh Walker (@HughWalker15) said: "Not happy but looks the best thing for a side lacking confidence and the ability to play fluently."

 

On Twitter, Bath Bytes (@BathBytes) had their say on the Rugby Challenge Cup, they said: "You have to play who you play. A poor season equals a lesser European competition, take it seriously and it could be winnable."

 

Although the fans might not be travelling to the South of France to watch their team take on the might of Toulon the players will still gain a huge amount of experience from a cup run. It could also be used to rest some international players who have continuously been playing rugby since the World Cup.

 

Due to the upcoming international schedule a number of Bath's England contingent might not get much rest once the Premiership season finishes. This is of course concerning especially in terms of player welfare and so playing against second tier European opposition might be a prime opportunity to rest those players in question.

 

Ultimately not being placed in the top six is a huge disappointment for the club, especially for their owner Bruce Craig. Playing against sides such as Toulon, Leinster and Clermont Auvergne gives you the opportunity to test yourself against Europe's elite, with any win sending out a serious message.

 

Last season's win against Toulouse in France was a performance that is still on the mind of many rugby fans, especially Jonathan Joseph's try. Beating the big clubs not only shows the strength in the Aviva Premiership but that you can rival the best clubs in the Northern Hemisphere.

 

However disappointed fans might be about not making the top six of the Aviva Premiership, playing in European Rugby's second tier competition could give them a much needed shot in the arm. Winning the Challenge Cup might not only rebuild confidence but would more importantly offer Bath a real chance of silverware.

 

It could be used to rotate squad players and offer game time to those who are maybe not being played much in the premiership. Any Bath fan would love to to see silverware back at the club and the Challenge cup is the perfect opportunity for that.

 

To hear more from our Bath Rugby columnist Stephen you can follow him on Twitter here.