Bath Rugby head coach Johann van Graan has provided the latest injury updates ahead of their Round Four Gallagher Premiership clash with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road this Saturday.
Young second row Ewan Richards impressed in Bath’s 38-17 derby victory over Gloucester, stepping up in place of injured veteran players. Richards, playing alongside Irishman Ross Molony, scored twice as both Charlie Ewels and Quinn Roux remained sidelined. However, both experienced forwards face extended recovery periods.
Van Graan revealed, “Charlie Ewels is the worst affected and won’t return until late Autumn. Quinn Roux’s injury is complicated, affecting both knees, and he is still in significant pain. I don’t have a clear timeline for his return yet.”
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Another notable absence in the Gloucester match was Bath captain and standout performer Ben Spencer, who missed out due to a hamstring issue. Tom Carr-Smith covered at scrum-half in his place. The coach expressed optimism for Spencer’s availability against Leicester, stating, “He felt some stiffness after a 50-22 kick last week and trained on Thursday but couldn’t fully open up. It wasn’t worth risking him, but we expect him back for next week.”
Flanker Ted Hill also showed promising recovery from his ankle injury. Van Graan commented, “Ted’s injury looked severe initially, but he has bounced back well over the past week. We’ll keep monitoring him closely in the coming weeks; our medical team is doing fantastic work.”
Finally, Thomas du Toit, who returned recently from the Rugby Championship, required on-field treatment for what appears to be an ankle concern—the same one he injured previously. Still, van Graan remained positive: “He managed to finish the game and scrum effectively, so I don’t anticipate anything serious.”
Bath Rugby will be hoping their key players continue to recover swiftly as they prepare to take on Leicester Tigers in what promises to be a competitive encounter at Welford Road.