Bristol Bears have been hit by a devastating blow with the news that superstar centre Semi Radradra is out for eight to 10 weeks with a knee injury which was picked up in a detailed medical with the club.
Radradra had a spectacular performance in Bristol’s 48-3 victory over Bath last Friday, making a stunning 162m with the ball in hand as he was the focal point of the Bears’ attack.
However Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has confirmed Radradra has been complaining of a niggle in his knee which the club have investigated.
Lam said: “It is actually good news
“He was having little niggles in his knee
"He had a medical and what we found is his tendon in his knee there is a tear in it.
!He could have played on it and he wanted to play but issue is if he gets tackled on it he could miss the entire season and right into next season.
“If we brace it for six weeks then it will be 100 percent and we are not a club who will take a risk.”
Former Wallabies winger was also placed on the club’s injury list this week but Lam confirmed the flyer is out with a minor injury.
He said: “Luke Morahan just strained his hip in the last training run so he will probably be back next week [to play Gloucester].
Bristol Bears have also brought in former Harlequins scrum half Calum Waters on trial to provide cover at number nine with the club down to just two fit players in the specialist position
First choice scrum half Harry Randall is away with England for the entire Six Nations having earned his first international call-up to the senior side.
He has not been named in the 23-man squad to take on Scotland on Saturday, with Leicester Tigers’ Ben Youngs starting and Wasps Dan Robson amongst the replacements, however he looks set to get his first taste of international rugby in the second weekend of the tournament when England take on Italy.
The Bears also have Chris Cook and Blake Boyland sidelined with injury.
Waters, 24, is currently a student at Bristol University.
He has made four competitive appearances for Harlequins, scoring in the 2017 Anglo-Welsh Cup competition, and will take part in Bristol’s warm-up ahead of facing Sale Sharks as cover for starter Andy Uren and replacement Tom Kessell.
