Bath Rugby prepares to face Northampton Saints this Saturday in a pivotal Gallagher Premiership showdown, but they will do so without two of their first-choice centres. England internationals Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence picked up injuries during Bath’s commanding 48-15 win over Harlequins last weekend.
Ojomoh is sidelined with an injury just below his knee, while Lawrence sustained a hand injury. Despite the hand issue, Lawrence continued to play after receiving treatment and strapping at the Rec.
Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, provided a comprehensive update on the squad’s status. Speaking on Lawrence, he said, “The hand injury isn’t as serious as we initially feared. Ollie is incredibly tough — playing the full 80 minutes showed his warrior spirit and earned him great respect from the team. We’ll take our time with his recovery and decide on his return carefully.”
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Regarding Ojomoh’s condition, van Graan added, “Initially, we thought it was an ankle injury, but it’s actually located just below the knee. We’re still awaiting further assessments under the watchful eye of Rory Murray, our head of medical. It could be a one or two-week recovery period. While he won’t be available this weekend, we hope to see him back in time for our European semi-final against Bordeaux in about two weeks. Max is highly committed to his rehab, so we’re optimistic about his return.”
Another concern is club captain Ben Spencer, who was withdrawn late from the starting lineup against Harlequins due to shoulder pain. Van Graan confirmed Spencer is unlikely to be risked this weekend as the team focuses on the upcoming Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux Bègles. “There’s no new update on Ben’s shoulder. We opted not to play him against Harlequins to avoid risking aggravation. He’s an integral player for us, and we’re monitoring him carefully with Rory Murray and Alex Martin, our head of physical performance. He moved well recently, so there’s no major concern, but we’ll decide on his return timing cautiously.”
Loosehead prop Beno Obano and lock Quinn Roux, who suffered a tight back and a dead leg respectively from last weekend’s European clash with Saints, have both improved. However, van Graan hinted they might not feature this weekend as they continue to recover.
On a positive note, full-back Ciaran Donoghue is pushing for selection. “Ciaran has been outstanding in training and is available for selection. Whether he starts or comes off the bench this week is yet to be decided. One thing is clear—he’s fast and moves freely, which excites the whole coaching staff,” van Graan concluded.
Bath Rugby will hope to overcome these injury challenges and maintain their strong position as they approach the crucial stages of both the Gallagher Premiership and the Champions Cup.