Pat Lam has made reassurances that Bristol Bears can handle the mounting injury issues in the front row heading into the vital festive period.
On Saturday the club postponed their Premiership Rugby Shield fixture against Harlequins after suffering a series of injuries in the tighthead position during the preceding week.
On Saturday Lam’s men secured another famous win the European Challenge Cup, beating Stade Francais 16-18, with tightheads Max Lahiff, James Lay and Nicky Thomas travelling to Paris for the game.
Bristol were without Jake Armstrong (groin), Lewis Thiede (neck), Jordan Lay (back), Nick English (toe) and John Afoa (dead leg).
Add to that injuries to hooker Shaun Malton (neck) and loosehead prop Yann Thomas (achilles) and fit frontrow are looking light on the ground.
Also on the injured list are flanker Dan Thomas (groin), centre Siale Piutau (knee), and wingers Jack Bates (hamstring) and Luke Daniels (shoulder).
The good news is World Cup winning All Black Afoa is set to be fit for the Bears trip to Saracens this weekend as is full back Charles Piutau.
Discussing the situation, Lam said: “Unfortunately Jake Armstrong pulled up with a groin injury in our last training session before heading to France so we had to bring some of those props who would have played [in the Shield game] over to France.
“Max Lahiff got a dead leg in training as well so we were right under the cosh, we had no frontrowers left really at short notice so we just postponed that game.
“Hopefully we should be sweet next week.
“We have got the resources we need for the main squad but when you are trying to go back to back with a Premiership Rugby Shield game on the same day it made it difficult. It will be easier when we are all in the same country.”
Elsewhere in the squad Bristol have sent out second row and number eight Joe Batley on loan to Gallagher Premiership rivals Leicester Tigers and he was named in the East Midlands club’s Premiership Shield squad to face Sale Sharks last night, losing 25-19 away from home.
The 23-year-old can be recalled to Bristol at any time and has spent most of the season on loan at Championship side Hartpury.
Batley joined Bristol on a three-year contract in 2017. He has made nine first team outings, including a try-scoring appearance at Franklin’s Gardens in the 26-24 victory in March 2019.
Lam said: “This is a good opportunity for Joe to get game-time at a very competitive level and showcase what he is capable of.
“He has performed well while on dual registration with Hartpury and we’re happy to support this chance for him to go out and play regular rugby at the next level.”
