Three INJURED players join Bath including two South Africans and league sensation

Bath have announced that three injured players have joined the club to continue their rehabilitation in an intriguing move from the Premiership club.

The trio will complete their rehabilitation at Farleigh House and have all signed deals with Johann van Graan’s side.

Regan Grace, Jacques du Plessis and Neil Le Roux

Rugby league sensation Regan Grace made the switch to union in 2022, signing a deal with Top 14 club Racing 92.

However, he never made an appearance for the club after suffering back-to-back Achilles injuries.

He made 143 appearances for St Helens, scoring 88 tries and went on to represent Wales in league.

Bath confirmed that Grace has signed a short-term contract with the West Country club and is looking to return to full fitness in March. He will be available for selection for the friendlies against Gloucester and Leinster.

Grace will be joined at the club by two South Africans who have linked up with the side from the Bulls. Forward Jacques du Plessis and scrum-half Neil Le Roux will also continue their rehabilitation with Bath.

Du Plessis played over 100 games for Montpellier and 37 times for the Bulls over two stints with the side.

His ability to play in the second-row and back-row is set to be a massive asset for Bath, as he has signed a “provisional deal” until the end of the current season.

Le Roux joins Du Plessis in joining Bath from the Bulls, where he will also complete his rehabilitation at Farleigh House.

Bath state that the South African U20s scrum-half “joins from the Bulls in the URC” but have not disclosed the length of Le Roux’s deal.

The two players joining from the Bulls continues an interesting relationship between the two clubs after Charlie Ewels headed to the Pretoria-based side last year to gain minutes in an attempt to make England’s World Cup squad.

Van Graan has a long affinity with the Bulls, too, as he worked in multiple roles with the side between 2004 and 2011, while his father Barend was also the union’s CEO for several years.

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Matt Gallagher to leave Bath

The three arrivals come a day after the club confirmed that outside back Matt Gallagher would be leaving Bath at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old back will join Italian side Benetton ahead of the 2024/25 season, departing Bath after two seasons in Blue, Black and White.

He signed for the club from Munster in the summer of 2022, making his starting debut against Bristol Bears on September 10 that year.

“I’ve loved my time at Bath Rugby,” Gallagher said.

“I’ve probably played the most rugby consecutively in these two years and I’ve loved every single moment of it. The boys have been fantastic ever since I walked through the door, and Bath being a big rugby city and The Rec being right in the middle, it has been a really cool experience.”

Van Graan added: “I wish Matt the very best. I signed Matt as a younger player at Munster and then at Bath as a seasoned back-three player. He had a fantastic season last year with us, and he has continued his excellent form into this season.”

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