Will Stuart set for first Bath appearance nine months after Achilles rupture

England tight-head Will Stuart will make his playing comeback on Tuesday when Bath face Bedford in a pre-season friendly at Goldington Road, nine months after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Bath’s Champions Cup victory over Munster in mid-December 2024.

Stuart was forced off early in the second half of that European fixture and missed the entire remainder of the 2024/25 season. He has been named on an extended bench after a lengthy rehabilitation, giving Bath and head coach Johann van Graan a significant boost ahead of the new Gallagher Premiership campaign.

His return carries added weight following the summer departure of Thomas du Toit to the Sharks in South Africa, which has left Bath short of proven options at tight-head. Stuart committed his long-term future to the club in February, signing a new contract through to 2028. Van Graan will be hoping the 30-year-old comes through the Bedford match unscathed.

Wales international Archie Griffin, returning from a toe procedure, starts at tight-head, with Stuart among the replacements. Also returning from injury are Wales centre Louie Hennessey, who had a shoulder issue, and former England hooker Tom Dunn.

Bath are using a bye week in the PREM Cup — following a 50-28 defeat at Sale Sharks last Sunday — to field a near-first-choice line-up. The backline, minus fly-half Finn Russell, could be the one that starts against Harlequins on 25 September in round one of the Premiership. Tom de Glanville starts at full-back, with Henry Arundell and Joe Cokanasiga on the wings, and Cam Redpath and Ollie Lawrence in the centres.

With captain Ben Spencer still sidelined by a shoulder injury, Tom Carr-Smith starts at scrum-half alongside Ciaran Donoghue at fly-half. Miles Reid captains the side from openside, new signing Dan du Preez wears the No.8 shirt, and Arthur Green starts at blindside. Quinn Roux and Ross Molony form an experienced second row, with Griffin joined in the front row by loose-head Claudius Wheeler and hooker Dan Frost.