Bristol Bears issue comprehensive injury update as Kalaveti Ravouvou and Noah Heward are ruled out
Bristol Bears have confirmed that Fijian international centre Kalaveti Ravouvou will be out of action for a couple of months after suffering a shoulder injury in the club's pre-season win against the Dragons two weeks ago.
The injury to the 26-year-old comes as a significant blow with director of rugby Pat Lam tipping the former Super Rugby Pacific player to have a breakout season in 2024/25 having spent a year bedding in at the club after arriving from the Fijian Drua after last Autumn's Rugby World Cup. He only just returned to full fitness having had surgery on his shoulder during the off-season.
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An official injury update from the club said: "Fijian Kalaveti Ravouvou sustained a shoulder injury during the pre-season clash against Dragons and will be out of action until November. The centre does not require surgery and is likely to be available for the club’s opening Premiership Cup fixtures."
With reduced squad numbers this season, Joe Jenkins, who impressed playing for Dings Crusaders last weekend to be named the National One player of the week, has been drafted onto the bench for the Bears' trip to Newcastle Falcons this weekend.
Elsewhere in the squad, full back and winger Noah Heward has undergone successful surgery on a hamstring injury he sustained in pre-season training, which will rule him out until the New Year.
Bristol's second-row resources will also be tested in the first half of the season with summer signing Steele Barker - who was signed from Championship side Cornish Pirates - ruled out for up to three months after breaking his foot playing for Dings Crusaders against Plymouth Albion last weekend. The second row will return to action in the New Year. Senior academy lock George Taylor, 21, is also out of action until the New Year having sustained an ACL injury during a pre-season training match.
Fijian international number eight Viliame Mata, who joined Bristol from Edinburgh this summer, remains on track to return in November having had surgery on his hamstring after picking up an injury during pre-season