BATH RELEASE EX-CAPTAIN MERCER TWO YEARS EARLY
Bath Rugby do not have an expected return date for Anthony Watson. As previously reported , the England and British Lions full-back reruptured his left Achilles – the tendon originally injured while playing against Ireland in the Six Nations in March. The original prognosis was a sixmonth lay-off and he had been working well through his rehab before the major setback which required a second operation last month. Director of rugby Todd Blackadder said: “The initial surgery didn’t quite take so he’s re-torn it and it’s a start-again injury. “We honestly don’t know what the timeline is because it could vary by weeks or months. It will certainly be later in the season.” Blackadder also refrained from putting an expected date on Jonathan Joseph’s return from a broken foot. The Chronicle understands he is targeting an October comeback. The director of rugby did confirm they are definitely looking at this side of Christmas. He added: “Return to training and return to play can be quite dif- ferent – two or three weeks apart. JJ’S still on target.” Beno Obano is still expected to miss most, if not all of the season, as he recovers from surgery. He suffered multiple injuries to his left knee while training with England earlier this year. Sam Underhill is fully recovered from his toe tendon issue, also picked up at England training. Blackadder said he has missed a couple of days’ work with “flu” recently, but other than that has been fit and firing. Other than that, and Francois Louw who has flown out to join the South Africa squad for the Championship, Bath have a full squad to pick from as they prepare for their pre-season matches against Edinburgh away on Friday night and then at home to Scarlets a week later. Somersetlive will be covering the Edinburgh match in a live blog. Visit somersetlive.co.uk/sport on Friday evening to keep up to date with all the action from the Scottish capital.