England centre Ollie Lawrence is poised for a surprising early comeback following a rapid recovery from a serious Achilles injury. The 25-year-old has been out of action for seven months after sustaining the injury during England’s Six Nations match against Italy, where he collapsed on the field after a sudden change of direction, with no opposing players nearby.
This injury not only ended his season prematurely but also dashed his hopes of joining the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. Despite a cautious approach from Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, who has refrained from setting a fixed timeline during Lawrence’s rehabilitation, expectations had leaned towards a return around the start of the new year. In the meantime, Bath signed Scottish international Chris Harris as injury cover.
However, in an update to RugbyPass, van Graan revealed that Lawrence is on track to feature as early as next Friday’s pre-season friendly against Worcester Warriors at Sixways—the very ground where Lawrence began his professional career. Bath will then host Exeter Chiefs the following day at the Recreation Ground in their final match before the Gallagher Premiership season opener against Harlequins.
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“There’s a chance he could be involved,” van Graan said. “He set himself a clear target for his return and has shown remarkable resilience throughout. I believe we’ll see a better player, a better person, and a better teammate.”
Lawrence, who has earned 35 caps for England, was spotted running during Bath’s open training session back in August—an encouraging sign of his progressing fitness.
His potential return at Sixways carries added significance, as it marks a poignant moment at the home of the Warriors, a club that reformed this summer after liquidation in 2022. Lawrence was once one of the Warriors’ standout players before their collapse, moving on to Bath alongside teammates Ted Hill and Niall Annett.