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Bath add Regan Grace to European roster; Sale re-sign WillGriff John
Regan Grace appears to be even closer to making his competitive debut for Bath after the winger was added to the high-flying Premiership club’s Champions Cup roster on Thursday.
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The former St Helens star, who scored 88 tries in 144 appearances for the Super League side, signed a short-term, rehab-based deal with Bath until the end of the season in February as he tries to rebuild his career following two injury-ravaged seasons.
Grace, still only 27, made a headline-grabbing code switch in 2022 when he signed for Racing 92, however, the speedster ruptured his Achilles as his League career drew to a close and never appeared for the glamorous Paris outfit.
If he does play against Exeter Chiefs in the Round of 16 Champions Cup clash, it would also be his competitive rugby union debut – unless he plays in this weekend’s Premiership match against Harlequins first.
Bath fans saw Grace’s potential in his first appearance in the blue, black and white jersey in the 59-19 friendly win over Gloucester three weeks ago. But he failed to make the matchday 23 in Bath’s 42-24 win over Sale last Sunday.
While he failed to get on the scoresheet against Gloucester, Grace’s footwork and agility with ball in hand was one of the features of the match and drew praise from Head of Rugby Johann van Graan. “He has something special inside him,” the South African said afterwards.
Gloucester were also impressed and the latest Fissler Confidential column reported that the Cherry & Whites are vying with their West Country rivals for his contract for next season.
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Bath have also added recently signed loose forward Jacques du Plessis to their European roster, while Champions Cup opponents Exeter have registered full-back Dan John, son of Wales 2009 World Cup 7s-winning coach Paul John, and former Coventry centre Will Rigg.
Meanwhile, Wales international WillGriff John has returned to Sale Sharks as tight-head cover for Nick Schonert. Schonert underwent surgery on a bone spur on his Achilles on Tuesday and has been ruled out for the season.
John made nearly 100 appearances for the Sharks in a four-season stay in the North West before leaving to join the Scarlets. He arrives back at Sale after a short spell in France with Racing 92 and Montauban.
Flanker Cam Neild is another returnee in contention for a place in the squad for the Cup tie against Ospreys at the Brewery Field on Saturday, April 6th now that he has been registered for Europe.
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Knockout stage EPCR registration – additional players
Investec Champions Cup
Bath Rugby: Regan Grace (Wing), Jacques du Plessis (back row/second row); Exeter Chiefs: Dan John (Full-back/wing), Will Rigg (Centre); Leicester Tigers: Tim Hoyt (Prop), Tom Manz (Second row); La Rochelle: Alexandre Kaddouri (Prop), Thierry Paiva (Prop); Toulouse: Benjamin Bertrand (Prop), Paul Mallez (Prop), Marco Trauth (Prop); Union Bordeaux-Bègles: Toma Taufa (Prop)
EPCR Challenge Cup
Bayonne: Mateo Carreras (Wing), Pierre Castillon (Prop); Montpellier: Christopher Tolofua (Hooker); Ospreys: Chris Moore (Hooker); Sale Sharks: Hyron Andrews (Second row), WillGriff John (Prop), Cameron Neild (Back row); Pau: Simon-Pierre Chauvac (Prop); Toyota Cheetahs: Jeandre Rudolph (Back row), Victor Sekekete (Second row); Zebre Parma: Josh Kaifa (Back row).
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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