Bath Rugby enter their second-round Gallagher PREM Rugby Cup fixture against Exeter Chiefs facing significant challenges in the fly-half position following Ciaran Donoghue’s knee injury sustained during last Friday’s pre-season friendly draw at Munster.
With British and Irish Lions fly-half Finn Russell sidelined until Round Three due to a mandated 10-week rest period post-tour, and new signing Santi Carreras still representing Argentina in the Rugby Championship, Bath head coach Johann van Graan finds himself relying on fringe and less experienced players for the pivotal number 10 role.
Sam Harris is progressing in his recovery from a long-term knee injury and is expected to return soon, although he might lack match fitness initially. Meanwhile, promising young talent James Linegar remains untested at this elite level. Van Graan acknowledged that the upcoming PREM Rugby Cup match at home and a pre-season friendly against Worcester Warriors present opportunities to experiment, possibly deploying players out of position at fly-half.
READ MORE: Clarks Village Food Festival Promises a Weekend of Flavor-Packed Delights
READ MORE: Somerset Primary School Maintains Excellence as Pupils Excel
He commented, “We prepare for every eventuality. Professional sport demands adaptability and fluidity. We have several potential options at 10: Ben Spencer and Max Ojomoh have experience there, Tom de Glanville has trained extensively at 10, Tom Carr-Smith has impressed as a backup, and Cam Redpath has also played there before. We might test one or two variations.”
Regarding Donoghue, van Graan said, “There is no definitive timeline for his return yet. We removed him a few minutes before the Munster game ended due to his knee. We will be cautious with his rehabilitation. Although it’s not ideal, injuries are part of the game.”
On a brighter note, Finn Russell has resumed training with Bath ‘in great shape’ and was actively participating in opposition drills at Farleigh House this week as part of preparations for the weekend’s fixtures.
Elsewhere in the squad, van Graan confirmed England centre Ollie Lawrence has successfully returned from an Achilles injury, performing well in recent sessions. Conversely, Jaco Coetzee sustained a fresh injury in Cork and will be unavailable for the upcoming game. “Jaco took a knock and won’t feature this weekend. Rory Murray and the medical team are managing his rehabilitation,” van Graan reported.
Finally, van Graan reassured fans concerning Lions tighthead prop Will Stuart’s fitness. Although Stuart was listed among players rehabilitating during England’s three-day training camp, he remains on track to return by Round Three of the Gallagher PREM season.