Sunday 17 December 2017 23:14, UK
Bath will not risk the long-term health of Sam Underhill who, according to the Premiership club, is still showing symptoms of the concussion he suffered while representing England.
The 21-year-old flanker was injured during England's international against Australia at Twickenham in November, which was the second time this season he had sustained concussion.
Bath are keen to recall Underhill, but understand the risks involved, with rugby director Todd Blackadder explaining: "He is still really symptomatic.
"On Tuesday, he still had symptoms of what happened to him playing for England. It is one of those really frustrating ones.
"We want him out there as soon as we can, but when a player has got the symptoms that he's had, it puts it back another week. He is just not feeling quite right. We put him under some physical exposure, and he's just not feeling 100 per-cent.
"We have specialists here, and it is symptomatic of concussion. It is one of those things you have to deal with.
"You have to trust the process and that the specialists will make the right calls. We would never put a player in danger, you just have to wait and see. Hopefully, we cross our fingers and he comes right. Player safety these days, it is really important we get it right.
"Even for the players it can create an anxiety for them. They have to think about their careers and what happens if it all finishes now."
Underhill had earlier suffered concussion during his club's Premiership game against Northampton in September.
Meanwhile, Blackadder confirmed that Taulupe Faletau does not require surgery to rectify a knee injury suffered against Toulon in France, last weekend.
He added: "It doesn't need surgical intervention, which is a real positive. That cuts it back by about a month. We are looking at about 12 weeks."
