Front-row players available again for Bristol’s big game against Chiefs
BRISTOL Bears will welcome back their isolating frontrow players for a huge Gallagher Premiership showdown with Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam confirmed the club have received a clean bill of health in the latest round of Covid-19 screening from Premiership rugby.
That means at least five of the six forwards isolating following the club’s first positive Covid test after beating Harlequins on Boxing Day - Yann Thomas, Will Capon, John Afoa, Bryan Byrne, Jake Woolmore and Max Lahiff - will be back in training this week and available for selection for the trip to Sandy Park.
That comes as an added boost with Lam praising the efforts of young hooker George Kloska, and props Jake Armstrong and Peter McCabe, who stood up to be counted in all three players’ first Premiership starts for the club in the 29-17 victory over Newcastle Falcons last weekend.
Lam said: “It is all good, we are really pleased. Following all the testing all staff and players have come back negative this week, which is great and a real credit to everyone, especially our medical staff.
“They guys that were self isolating and who were negative have come back negative again, so they will be joining us tomorrow for training which is excellent.
“Ben Earl and Kyle Sinckler are also back from their breaks and are good to go for selection.”
Lam also confirmed flanker Dan Thomas and lock Ed Holmes, who were named on the club’s unavailable list last weekend, were just on mandatory rest and are not carrying knocks, while the likes of centre Siale Piutau, lock Chris Vui, fullback Max Malins and winger Henry Purdy are being assessed week to week.
With the return of Charles Piutau at full-back and Luke Morahan on the wing last weekend, those injuries are less pressing.
Lam said: “The good thing is there is nothing major injury wise, so that is good.”
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has confirmed there have been new positive Covid cases in his squad this week but he is confident we will be able to field a strong side for the top of the table clash on Saturday.
Baxter said: “We have had some positive (Covid) tests and that has had a slight impact on the availability of players but not huge.
“We are a team that whenever we do have any positive Covid tests, organise a second round of testing later in the week so we will do that tomorrow or Friday to make sure everything has been picked up.”