Botham to miss opening months of the season

James Botham will miss the opening months of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery during the summer.

The flanker is now four weeks post-op and targeting a return to action in November. 

Botham is the only new significant injury ahead of the 2021-22 season with Luke Scully and Mason Grady continuing their recoveries from knee ligament injuries.

Ben Murphy (knee) and Ben Thomas (groin) are both currently unavailable but progressing through their rehabilitation programmes well and are on track to return during the opening rounds of the season.

Meanwhile British & Irish Lions duo Josh Adams and Josh Navidi are due to return to training in two weeks’ time.