Bath Rugby is preparing to face Northampton Saints in a pivotal Gallagher Premiership match without key centre players Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence. Both England internationals sustained injuries during Bath’s commanding 48-15 win over Harlequins on Saturday.
Ojomoh suffered an injury just below his knee, initially feared to be an ankle issue, but medical evaluations have confirmed its precise location. He remains under close supervision by the club’s medical head, Rory Murray. Meanwhile, Lawrence sustained a hand injury but demonstrated remarkable resilience, continuing to play with treatment and strapping during the game.
Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, offered insight into their conditions: “Ollie’s hand isn’t too severe. We are cautious, but after seeing him perform the entire match, his toughness exemplifies the spirit of rugby and our team. We will assess his readiness before deciding on his return to play.”
READ MORE: ‘I Want to Be Exactly Like Him’ - Bath Rugby’s Rising Star Finds the Perfect Role Model
READ MORE: New Commercial Units Approved in Bridgwater, Bringing More Jobs Near M5
Regarding Ojomoh, van Graan added, “His recovery timeline is uncertain—possibly one to two weeks. We’ll evaluate him again closer to our Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux next week. Max’s dedication to recovery is exceptional, and we hope to see him back soon.”
Captain Ben Spencer, who exited the Harlequins match late due to shoulder pain, is also unlikely to feature against Northampton. Van Graan stated, “Ben is important to us, and although there’s no major concern, we prefer not to risk him ahead of the vital European semi-final. He’s progressing well under medical care, and we’ll reintegrate him when appropriate.”
Injury updates on other players include loosehead prop Beno Obano and lock Quinn Roux, both recovering from minor issues sustained during a recent Champions Cup fixture. Van Graan noted improvements but hinted they may not be involved this weekend.
Conversely, full-back Ciaran Donoghue is rapidly pushing for selection after impressive training performances. Van Graan praised his speed and mobility, expressing optimism about his potential inclusion in the match-day squad.
Bath Rugby faces a challenging fixture at Franklin’s Gardens, balancing player recovery with the demands of upcoming European commitments.