Lam to assess Hughes recall on game-by-game basis
PAT Lam will continue to evaluate Nathan Hughes’ loan to Bath on a game-by-game basis with the backrow forward expected to return to Bristol Bears, at the latest, by midApril.
Hughes was loaned out to Bears’ West Country rivals in January as had fallen out of favour in terms of Lam’s first XV, and his only minutes were for the A-team and even a solitary appearance in the Championship for Hartpury.
The England international’s time at the Rec has enabled him to raise and maintain his match fitness to an optimum level, meaning that when he does return to Ashton Gate he’ll be match-ready.
Although, such is the quirk of the fixture list with Hughes ineligible to play Bristol and then Bath experiencing a bye week, he’s not played since February 26.
Given Bears’ injury struggles, particularly since the turn of the year, Lam has the recall option should the situation mean that he’s short in the back row but the 30-year-old could be back for the Champions Cup Round of 16 against Sale on April 15 and then the final four Premiership games of the campaign.
“At the moment, all the guys we loan, there’s always a call-back,” said Lam. “The reason for loaning is to get guys game-time. Obviously each player comes off the wage bill as well but as you come to the end (of the season), you want as many guys playing.
“You can’t afford not to have guys playing rugby for a while and the agreement was to get Nate game time at Bath, like Jake Armstrong at Edinburgh, who had Leinster and Munster and was able to come back and fit straight in.
“We’re in contact the whole time. At the moment, we set down a date to mid-April but every week you just check it; you never know what you’ll face until after you finish your game.
“So, come the end of the Saracens game, we’ll look at it: ‘did everyone get through? Is everyone okay?’ And so forth. When you look at our back-row option, we’re still well-covered.”
Hughes is one of the more highprofile figures in the Bears squad whose contract expires this summer and is sure to be subject to significant interest around the Premiership.
The delicate nature of salary cap management, following the leaguewide reduction to £5 million for this season in the wake of Covid-19, means the Bears have to be increasingly careful and frugal in their squad planning.
As a result, Hughes’ salary coupled with his lack of playing time in 2021-22 means he simply hasn’t provided the necessary value to justify an extension, although Lam, while not wanting to name individuals, insists that process is ongoing.