Bath Rugby is gearing up for their Round 13 Gallagher Premiership clash against Harlequins at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, buoyed by the promising return of full-back Ciaran Donoghue. Donoghue, sidelined since September due to an ACL injury sustained in pre-season against Munster, is once again training at full pace and pushing for selection amidst strong competition from Santi Carreras and Tom de Glanville.
Head of Rugby Johann van Graan praised Donoghue’s comeback, stating, “He trained exceptionally well today. He’s back to his old self—full of running, sharp in his kicking, and showing great energy. After battling setbacks over recent months, credit goes to him and our support staff. He’s not only training but performing at a high level."
However, Bath is adopting a cautious approach with other key players. Beno Obano, Sam Underhill, and Quinn Roux all sustained injuries during Bath’s thrilling 43-41 victory over Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions quarter-final. Van Graan provided updates on their status ahead of the upcoming fixtures, including a tough away game at league leaders Northampton next weekend.
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“Sam is currently going through the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process but appears fine with no long-term concerns,” explained van Graan. “Quinn has a dead leg, so we will assess him before the game. Beno suffered a stiff back and needed to come off, but he was running this afternoon and seemed positive. His injury isn’t expected to be serious."
Van Graan also highlighted the physical and mental toll on the squad, mentioning the intensity of recent matches and the necessity to manage player workloads carefully. “We’ve faced relentless demands, including some players returning from the Six Nations and tough European fixtures. It’s vital we look after their well-being both on and off the field.”
On the other side, Harlequins are entering the match significantly depleted, announcing 27 players unavailable due to injury. Key absences include Rodrigo Isgró, Tyrone Green, Oscar Beard, Stephan Lewies, Fin Baxter, and Joe Launchbury, presenting a challenging task for the visitors.