Bristol Rugby's season has taken a further knock with the news that captain Joe El Abd will be out for at least three and a half months – although his loss could be negated by a new signing.
Head coach Richard Hill has lost his leader until April at the earliest, but has been boosted by the return to first-team action of prop Jason Hobson and the prospect of a new recruit in the next 48 hours.
Hill refused to give any further details on the reinforcement until the deal is set in stone, having already seen the transfer of centre Nathan Brew collapse at the 11th hour this season.
Any transfer activity is welcome news for the Bristol Rugby fans though, given speculation over the financial viability of the club and Hill confirmed he still has the ability to bring players in if needed.
"We have to wait until the signatures are on the bit of paper but we hope to strengthen the squad, which is good news and a good sign for the club," said Hill.
The bad news is El Abd's bicep, torn in Bristol's 25-21 European Challenge Cup defeat at the Memorial Stadium last weekend, will rule him out for most of the season.
"If you ask Joe he'll say seven days," said Hill. "But the consultants tell us that, after the operation, it's going to be three months before he's available.
"He could be back at the beginning of April, maybe a little bit earlier because Joe is a good healer. There could be six matches there he could be playing in at a crucial stage of the season – I think it might go down to the last game."
Scrum-half Shaun Perry will captain the side in El Abd's absence when Bristol Rugby take on Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Saturday. And the England international is one of a trio of senior players earmarked to fill the void left by the club's latest patient.
"We're expecting Perry, (Mark) Regan and (Robert) Sidoli to stand up at the front and be leaders," said Hill, who also pinpointed Hobson's timely return from a neck injury.
"Hobson is raring to go," he said. "He and (Mariano) Sambucetti will offer the hard edges of the pack.
"Both are very combative, very abrasive players and they'll both be picked because we'll need to have some tough characters up at Sixways. We need players who are going to stand toe to toe and win that physical battle."
Bristol Rugby (from): Backs: L Arscott, G Barden, G Beveridge, N Brew, E Barnes, L Eves, A Jarvis, D Lemi, S Perry, L Robinson. Forwards: N Budgett, A Clarke, D Crompton, J Hobson, S Linklater, R Pennycook, J Phillips, M Regan, M Sambucetti, R Sidoli, A To'oala, D Ward-Smith.
Head coach Richard Hill has lost his leader until April at the earliest, but has been boosted by the return to first-team action of prop Jason Hobson and the prospect of a new recruit in the next 48 hours.
Hill refused to give any further details on the reinforcement until the deal is set in stone, having already seen the transfer of centre Nathan Brew collapse at the 11th hour this season.
Any transfer activity is welcome news for the Bristol Rugby fans though, given speculation over the financial viability of the club and Hill confirmed he still has the ability to bring players in if needed.
"We have to wait until the signatures are on the bit of paper but we hope to strengthen the squad, which is good news and a good sign for the club," said Hill.
The bad news is El Abd's bicep, torn in Bristol's 25-21 European Challenge Cup defeat at the Memorial Stadium last weekend, will rule him out for most of the season.
"If you ask Joe he'll say seven days," said Hill. "But the consultants tell us that, after the operation, it's going to be three months before he's available.
"He could be back at the beginning of April, maybe a little bit earlier because Joe is a good healer. There could be six matches there he could be playing in at a crucial stage of the season – I think it might go down to the last game."
Scrum-half Shaun Perry will captain the side in El Abd's absence when Bristol Rugby take on Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Saturday. And the England international is one of a trio of senior players earmarked to fill the void left by the club's latest patient.
"We're expecting Perry, (Mark) Regan and (Robert) Sidoli to stand up at the front and be leaders," said Hill, who also pinpointed Hobson's timely return from a neck injury.
"Hobson is raring to go," he said. "He and (Mariano) Sambucetti will offer the hard edges of the pack.
"Both are very combative, very abrasive players and they'll both be picked because we'll need to have some tough characters up at Sixways. We need players who are going to stand toe to toe and win that physical battle."
Bristol Rugby (from): Backs: L Arscott, G Barden, G Beveridge, N Brew, E Barnes, L Eves, A Jarvis, D Lemi, S Perry, L Robinson. Forwards: N Budgett, A Clarke, D Crompton, J Hobson, S Linklater, R Pennycook, J Phillips, M Regan, M Sambucetti, R Sidoli, A To'oala, D Ward-Smith.
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