Fit-again Lions star’s closing in on a return to action
BRITISH and Irish Lions star Anthony Watson looks set to make his return from an ACL injury next weekend when Bath host London Irish in Round 25 of the Gallagher Premiership.
In further good news, young centre Max Ojomoh has recovered from a calf injury that has seen him miss the last seven weeks, to provide extra firepower to the Blue, Black and White’s backline as the club look to climb off the base of the Premiership table in the final two games of the regular season.
Watson, who could well line up at either full-back or on the wing when he returns, is expected to leave Bath at the end of the season for Leicester Tigers who are set to see giant Fijian wing star Nemani Nadolo leave for Super Rugby side the Waratahs on a one-year deal, according to the latest reports.
However Watson, who has 51-caps for England, is looking to get back on the pitch to finish his Bath career in style and to put himself back in the picture for national head coach Eddie Jones ahead of England’s tour of Australia this summer, with an uncapped match against the Barbarians before that on June 19 as well.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Watson said: “Whether it is one or two games (for Bath this season), either way I will be happy.
“My knee feels great. I feel this rehab has given me so much. I feel like I am a lot better.
“My top speed is significantly higher than the top speed I ever hit before. It’s been an enjoyable process.”
Watson has been sidelined since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in Bath’s catastrophic 17-71 defeat to Saracens back on October 17, ruling him out of the Autumn Nations Cup and Guinness Six Nations as well as almost the entire club season.
The ACL injury is the third serious injury of the dynamic 28-year-old Watson’s career having previously suffered a double Achilles rupture.
Meanwhile, discussing Ojomoh following the club’s defeat to Gloucester last week, Bath head coach Neal Hatley said: “Max is only just back a week from injury, he’s been off for five weeks with an ankle injury, so Ojoh will probably feature in the next two games.”
In Ojomoh’s absence, departing Max Clark has been given a run of games at inside centre with Cam Redpath also sidelined.
With the European semi-finals being played this weekend, Bath are not in action but host the Exiles next before finishing their season away at Worcester Warriors.
Meanwhile, Bath’s England international Danny Cipriani is set to move to the United States to play in the MLR, according to the latest reports.
Cipriani, 34, confirmed last month that he will leave Bath at the end of the season when his contract expires for a move to a ‘new country’.
Cipriani has now been linked with a move to link up with former England head coach Brian Ashton at the Dallas Jackals.
Cipriani had previously been linked with moves to clubs in Japan and France but this weekend The Rugby Paper reported the Dallas
Jackals are ‘leading the hunt’ for his signature.
Dallas have struggled in their first season in the MLR despite the presence of a number of former Premiership players in the squad, with Cipriani’s former Gloucester Rugby teammates Henry Trinder and Todd Gleave at the club as well as former Worcester Warriors fullback Chris Pennell and former Leicester Tigers prop Ryan Bower.
The Rugby Paper reports the move to Dallas could offer Cipriani a first step into coaching after he recently spoke about his desire to move into management after his playing career.