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Bath Rugby have confirmed that new signing Dan du Preez will miss the club’s next two PREM matches, away to Gloucester this Friday and clash at home with his former club Sale on Saturday 31 October.
Du Preez, who has had a solid enough start to his Bath career following a late-season move, injured his hamstring in training ahead of last weekend’s defeat to Montpellier in the Investec Champions Cup.
The 31-year-old has scored in each of his two appearances so far, against Harlequins and Exeter, in the first and second rounds.
With Sam Underhill out until at least December with a biceps injury and Miles Reid forced to miss the Montpellier match with concussion, Bath had to dig into their big back-row reserves.
However, Reid, who led Bath in a 71-48 defeat Northampton before his 150th appearance for the club came to a premature end, he is back in contention for Friday’s West Country derby.
Bath’s resolve will be tested by a resurgent Gloucester and the availability of a linebacker like Reid can only be good news for what should be a ding-dong clash.
An injury update released by the club on behalf of the club’s head of medical services, Rory Murray, said: ‘Miles Reid is nearing the end of his concussion return protocol and is expected to be available this weekend.’
Meanwhile, back three players Will Muir, Henry Arundell and Tom de Glanville have continued with elements of training and their availability is being assessed on a week-to-week basis.
Billy Sela will return at the end of November from a pre-season foot injury, while his counterpart Jamie Bhatti plans to return in the New Year after bicep and forearm surgery.
Thompson Cowan remains on track to return during the Autumn Prem Cup block, which starts away at Exeter on November 7.
