Bath Rugby is nearing full strength ahead of their pivotal Gallagher Premiership match against Leicester Tigers this Saturday. On Tuesday, 47 players were fit and actively training, including centre Max Ojomoh, who is on the cusp of returning from an ankle injury sustained against Exeter Chiefs on April 19.
Head of Rugby Johann van Graan faces the challenge of balancing intense preparation for the upcoming EPCR Challenge Cup final versus Lyon and the Premiership semi-final, while ensuring players remain fresh and injury-free. Fortunately, van Graan’s squad depth allows him to navigate these demands from a position of strength.
After fielding a rotated side in last weekend’s derby loss to Bristol Bears, van Graan is expected to deploy his star players for this crucial top-of-the-table encounter at the Recreation Ground. Although Ojomoh is making great progress in training, he will need more time to regain full match fitness after a long absence.
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Van Graan commented on his squad’s condition: “Max Ojomoh is progressing really well. He trained fully today and looks both eager and quick. There’s a difference between training performance and delivering in high-stakes games, so I’ll only field him once I’m confident he can perform at that level.”
He also provided updates on other key players: “Ewan Richards was withdrawn against Bristol due to a tight hamstring, but it’s nothing serious. Josh Bayliss was a bit stiff but played excellently on Saturday. We have no new major injuries and will assess everything again after Thursday’s training before finalising selections.”
Van Graan reflected on the squad’s growth: “It’s impressive to see 47 lads training together. It shows how the squad has matured, and players are increasingly aware of which of the three teams they belong to.”
A standout story is back Ciaran Donoghue’s rapid rise from the third team to being nearly indispensable in the first team. Van Graan praised his impact: “Ciaran has forced his way into the matchday 23 and it’s tough to leave him out now. This is a great reminder that no player is guaranteed a jersey — we all fight for our place.”