Johann van Graan provides injury update as Bath lose both starting wingers ahead of facing Bristol Bears

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Bath Rugby head into next weekend’s derby with Bristol Bears potentially without their two first-choice wingers after both Joe Cokanasiga and Will Muir left the Welford Road pitch with injuries during their 20-15 win over Leicester Tigers on Sunday.

Working with just a six-day turnaround until the Bears come to the Recreation Ground in Round Three of the Gallagher Premiership, Cokanasiga was removed in the first half after taking a blow to the head by the shoulder of centre Izaia Perese when he collided dangerously with him trying to charge down a kick. Australian Perese was shown a yellow card for the incident by referee Craig Maxwell-Keys and Cokanasiga did not return having failed his HIA. He will now miss the derby due to the league’s 10-day stand-down protocols.

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More concerningly, Muir limped off in the second half with a knee injury having scored a try earlier in the match, unable to support his full weight with his arms around the shoulders of two of the club’s medical staff.

Speaking after the match, Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said: “Obviously Joe Cokanasiga failed his HIA so that means he won’t be back next week.

“Will Muir we will get some more info on but it looked innoxious and he just fell down, so that is a definite knee issue. You worry when they are non-contact injuries and we will take our time understanding it, but it seems we will be without both our wingers for next week.”

Bath have Ruaridh McConnochie to call upon ahead of the derby, but with Regan Grace currently sidelined having had surgery on his hamstring, van Graan’s options after that will potentially require a backline reshuffle with either full-back Tom de Glanville or centre Will Butt moved over. Young Tyler Offiah, who signed for the club’s senior academy this summer, is an option having featured in pre-season, but he was playing BUCs rugby for the University of Bath this week. The step-up in a derby would be a bold selection call.