During Van Graan’s tenure Bath have won the Prem title, Prem Rugby Cup and Challenge Cup but the their only win in European top tier competition remains almost 30 years ago, when it was then known as the Heineken Cup.
Bath fell short at the semi-final stage in 2006 away at Brive but Van Graan said returning and going two steps further in the coming years remains an aim.
“We as a group have gotten to love this competition now and who knows what happens next season?” he added.
“One season doesn’t have anything to do with the next one, but this is the only competition that we as a group haven’t won yet, it’s definitely something we’d love to do in our time together.”
England winger Henry Arundell, who played the full match in France, said the result had given the players “validation” that they can compete against the world’s best teams.
“It’s disappointing some of the opportunities we didn’t take but it’s also validation that we are good enough against the current champions,” he said.
“For the future it means we know where we need to improve and we are capable of really competing in that competition.”
