Bristol Bears’ medical department have issued a full update on the squad ahead of the start of the 2025/26 season
James Williams of Bristol Bears breaks away to score . (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Bristol Bears have confirmed that both hooker Will Capon and centre James Williams are set to miss the first half of the season after sustaining injuries in the last couple of weeks.
Centre Williams suffered an ankle injury during the PREM Rugby Cup game defeat away at Sale Sharks two weeks ago and has undergone surgery at Nuffield this week. The Bears’ medical team confirmed he is due to return during the winter.
Hooker Capon will be out even longer, sidelined until the New Year after having an operation on a ‘contact knee injury’ picked up during the club’s pre-season training camp in Portugal.
Switching attention to full-back, Rich Lane is recovering from a stinger injury to his shoulder, which has caused some weakness, and he is being monitored by the medical staff before returning to full contact training.
Noah Heward is recovering from an Achilles and hamstring injury he sustained early in pre-season. He is due to start running this week with the hope he will build-up his loading over the next three weeks.
Tighthead prop Max Lahiff is ‘re-entering controlled elements of training’ following ankle reconstruction surgery in the summer on the injury he suffered in last season’s semi-final defeat to Bath at The Rec.
Scrum-half Sam Wolstenholme is set to returning to training in the next couple of weeks after it was judged the hamstring injury he suffered in training during the pre-season training camp in Portugal did not require surgery.
Second row Steele Barker, who is out with a hamstring pull, and winger Jack Bates, who is suffering with an adductor injury, have both returned to controlled elements of training following injuries sustained during pre-season and will be available for selection in the coming weeks.