Harry Randall and Rich Lane: Bristol Bears duo on track for Christmas return

Bristol Bears hope to have England scrum-half Harry Randall and full-back Rich Lane back from injury over the Christmas period.

Randall has not played since the first Prem match of the season because of a hamstring injury that required surgery while Lane has yet to feature this campaign after also having an operation on a neck injury.

“Both remain ahead of schedule and are tracking towards returns over the Christmas period,” a club statement, external said.

Winger Gabriel Ibitoye is expected to be available “early in the New Year” after suffering a “complex hamstring injury” during the same match against Leicester as Randall.

Bristol return to Prem action on Saturday with a fixture against league leaders Northampton (17:45 GMT) following the autumn international break.

The club has been suffering from a major injury crisis during the first block of the campaign, with them at one point without 15 backs in their squad.

Lock James Dun, who has not played since 17 October because of a shoulder issue is, like Ibitoye, “on course” to be available early in January.

Flanker Steven Luatua, prop George Kloska, back Max Pepper are still sidelined but expected back in the coming weeks, along with full-back Noah Heward, who has a “minor thigh injury”.