Final ‘too soon’ for Piutau and Purdy

Pair will not be part of Bears’ squad for Challenge Cup showpiece against Toulon

CHARLES Piutau and Henry Purdy will both miss Bristol Bears’ European Challenge Cup final with Toulon on Friday.

Bears director of rugby Pat Lam says this weekend is too soon for both players, with Piutau nursing an Achilles injury and Purdy suffering with a hamstring strain, which was sustained in training.

Former All Black Piutau has been sidelined with an Achilles injury before, injuring it just prior to moving from Ulster in the summer of 2018. The full-back also missed the start of the Bears’ 2019-20 campaign, which began with four Premiership Rugby Cup games, as he again nursed his Achilles.

Piutau has not featured for the Bears since September 8, when he came off the pitch during the Bears’ 47-10 victory over Northampton Saints in round 19 of the Gallagher Premiership at Ashton Gate.

Speaking to the press before flying out to France on tomorrow, ahead of the final at the Stade Maurice-David, Lam said it was too soon to make a call on powerful forwards Chris Vui and Nathan Hughes, who both came off with injuries in the Premiership semi-final defeat to Wasps at the weekend, but ruled out both Piutau and Purdy.

Lam said: “There are a few niggles we have got to overcome before Friday, so I have given the guys as much time as possible.

“Obviously Nathan Hughes and Chris Vui (are doubts) from the weekend, but I think the game has come too early for Charles Piutau and Henry Purdy, two of our backs.

“They won’t be making it for this week, but certainly from the game at