Bath boss reluctant to specify Finn Russell return date

Bath will take things week by week as they manage the “significant” injuries suffered by Scotland pair Finn Russell and Cameron Redpath, with no time frame put on their recoveries.

Fly-half Russell, the Scotland co-captain, was forced off with a groin issue after just 15 minutes of the Investec Champions Cup defeat at Exeter on April 6, while centre Redpath departed in the second half because of an ankle problem.

An injury update issued on Tuesday from Bath’s head of medical Rory Murray described the injuries to both players as “significant” and said their availability would be “assessed weekly”.

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains the team selection for the Northampton Saints face-off

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White explains the team selection for the Northampton Saints face-off

Bath are second in the Gallagher Premiership table with four games of the regular season left as they target the play-offs.

“We have assessed them properly, they have gone for multiple scans and opinions and I trust Rory to get them back into our team as quickly as possible,” said Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan.

“The reason why we say weekly is it is too difficult to put a specific timeline on, so as soon as one or both of them are back, we will select them.

“For us now it is one focus – the Premiership. It is a two-week block, then a week away and then another two-week block – and then we will know where we are at in terms of the rest of the season.

“So I am definitely not going to speculate. We will make that decision as every week goes by and hopefully we will see them back sooner than later.”

Russell, 31, has helped transformed Bath’s fortunes since joining from French club Racing 92 and impressed for Scotland during the Guinness Six Nations.

Van Graan added on his injury: “The injury is what we call significant, so what we mean by that it is not something that he will quickly run off in five or six days.

“Rory is world class in what he does. We are going to leave no stone unturned and are going to be getting him back as soon as we can.

“But internally too, from the group’s point of view, he is one of the lads.

“He had a week away with his family, now he is back in the building and is going to take rehab day by day and hopefully we can get him back on the pitch soon.”

Both Russell and Redpath will also be keen to return to fitness for Scotland’s summer tour in July, which features Tests against Canada, the United States, Chile and Uruguay.