Skipper Garvey ruled out of Falcons away clash

BATH Rugby captain Matt Garvey is out of action with a neck injury, writes Daniel Evans.

Garvey suffered a compression in contact against Exeter Chiefs last weekend and came off at half-time, but is not expected to be out for long.

He could be ready to go for Worcester Warriors in the Gallagher Premiership at the Rec on Saturday, November 17.

Both Paul Grant (calf strain) and Cooper Vuna (ankle) are not fit to face Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Kingston Park and are also hoping for mid-November returns to action.

Luke Charteris will not feature at Kingston Park as his body does not react well to artificial surfaces. There will be some players back in contention for Bath, however, as they look to end a six-match winless run.

Will Chudley, Alex Davies and Miles Reid are all training at Farleigh House and are available after their respective head injury assessments in the past fortnight.

“They’re all good,” said general manager Stuart Hooper, who will again lead the coaching team on Tyneside on Friday night.

Tom Dunn (fractured eye socket) is expected to be back soon, while Jonathan Joseph (foot) and Jackson Willsion (hamstring) are targeting mid-November returns. Aled Brew could be back from his fractured forearm towards the end of the month, with Taulupe Faletau – who suffered a similar injury – eyeing a return in early December along with Rhys Priestland (knee ligaments). Anthony Watson is expected to be back from his Achilles’ tendon rupture early next year, with the prognosis for Beno Obano (knee) later next year.