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challenge-cup
Harlequins Chief Jason Gilmore says he does England Loosehead Fin Baxter is back for another week, against the Gallagher Prem London Derby Saracens on Sunday, October 25 marked as the date of his return.
Baxter, 24, has not played since scoring in the Champions Cup win Bayonne on December 14, 2025, after suffering a foot injury that required several surgeries.
He was expected to play in Quins’ Challenge Cup opener against French side Vannes Top 14 in the standings after losing all six games this season, but Gilmore feels he will benefit more from another week of practice.
Providing an update on some of his other injured players, Gilmore said Samoan Titi Lamositele should be back for the trip to Exeter Chiefs at the end of the month, and that Harry Williams and Ben Waghorn are also close to returning to action.
“We’ve had a look at Finn this week but we’ll just throw in another week of training and then he’ll be available for Sarries,” Gilmore confirmed.
“Titi may be the limit for the Exeter game. If not, he will be ready for the start of block two.”
Gilmore is glad to finally see some light at the end of a very long tunnel on the injury front; The Australian can’t remember the last time he was this good.
“I don’t know if I can go back that far. But the positive is that we’re almost there, and you can feel it.”
“I’m really comfortable with the way the team is sitting right now. We have a lot to choose from.”
“Fin is training really hard; Harry Williams is around the corner; Ben Waghorn should be back on the pitch next week.
“We don’t want to be handing out jerseys left, right and centre, you have to earn them. When you have that, you have the competitiveness and the standards in training and the performances can feed into the game and then the guys know they really have to earn their shirt.”