Antoine Frisch has played his final game for Bristol Bears.
The French centre, who will Munster next season on a three-year deal, needs surgery on his shoulder after injuring it in the 29-28 victory over Gloucester Rugby last weekend.
In his midweek press conference, Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam confirmed Frisch will have minor surgery to ‘tidy-up’ the injury.
Lam said: “Antoine is going to need surgery so his season is done and his time with us is over with him moving on.
“He shouldn’t be out for long, it is just a little tidy up,” Lam said, confirming Frisch should be back to be able to do pre-season with his new club Munster.
Meanwhile, former Wallabies winger Luke Morahan is a doubt for Bristol Bears’ trip to Welford Road to take on Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers on Saturday having filled in at full-back against the Cherry and Whites with Charles Piutau sidelined with a groin injury.
Lam said: “With Luke, very early on against Gloucester he went up for a high ball and got tipped and he landed on his tailbone, on his backside, and he hasn’t been able to train this week so he is doubtful and obviously Sam Bedlow got suspended (for four games) last night.”
Ioan Lloyd is on the verge of an injury return from a broken cheekbone and could feature against Tigers while Henry Purdy is fit but has not been used since the Premiership Rugby Cup defeat to Gloucester in March; both men are options at both full-back and centre.
Bristol’s media team also shared encouraging footage of scrum-half Tom Whiteley back running on the grass this week having had surgery on his hamstring back in February.
Lam said: “Tom is doing well and could be cover towards the backend of the season if Harry Randall or Andy Uren get injured.
“He is ahead of schedule.”
However, Lam said it is unlikely he will feature again this season with just three games remaining as he said his medical team are given clear directions to get players back in a condition they will not ‘break again’ under the intensity of 80 minutes of professional rugby
He said: “I don’t like players coming back and getting reinjured and the medics know that, that is not a good sign so they know where the bar is set.”
In the forwards, the Bears’ warrior-like captain Steven Luatua left the field looking in discomfort on Friday night but Lam said that was more a reflection of the former All Black leaving it all out on the field.
Lam said: “Steven Luatua was superb on Friday, he got through 65 minutes and he had cramp when he came off.
“He is a trooper the way he plays and he is class the way he plays.
“He has had a light week of training to recover and he is a good show for this week.
Elsewhere in the pack Dave Attwood remains sidelined after suffering an injury in the Champions Cup defeat to Sale Sharks earlier this month and will not travel to face Tigers.
Bristol Bears' official unavailable list published on Friday, April 22:
- Max Lahiff
- Yann Thomas
- Kyle Sinckler
- Bryan Byrne
- Dave Attwood
- Jake Heenan
- Nathan Hughes
- Oscar Lennon
- Tom Whiteley
- Ioan Lloyd
- Siva Naulago
- Charles Piutau
- Semi Radradra
- Rich Lane
