Bristol Bears face Saracens on Saturday in Round Two of the 2025/26 Gallagher PREMBristol Bears’ Gabriel Ibitoye leaves the field with an injury (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Bristol Bears star trio AJ MacGinty, Harry Randall and Gabriel Ibitoye will all undergone surgery on injuries they sustained in the victory over Leicester Tigers on Sunday to hand Pat Lam a devastating blow just two weeks into the 2025/26 season.

Fly-half MacGinty injured his Achilles, and scrum-half Randall and winger Ibitoye both suffered serious hamstring strains. Providing an update on the trio in his midweek press conference, Bristol director of rugby Lam said: “I’ve probably never been in a game where I lose three starters, top players to surgery in one game. But that’s just the challenge we face.

“Unfortunately, all three are having surgery. Two of them today. AJ’s in today, repairing his torn Achilles. That’s expected to be nine months out, so probably closer to the end of the season.

“Then we have Harry Randall, who’s having surgery on his hamstring, so he should be back hopefully around New Year.

“Gabs Ibitoye is also having surgery on his hamstring, probably on Saturday. So that is three surgeries for three massive players for us.”

Lam said Ibitoye’s return date will be determined after his surgery.

While the Bears boss was keen not to cry over spilled milk, he admitted the odds on his side making the top four this season have just increased. He said: “I think the context is, if you look at all the PREM teams and say, right, take out their number one nine, their number one ten and their top try-scorer [and you have trouble]. They’re the big drivers of our game, Harry and AJ, and Gabs just brings X-factor. Now we need to get a response and we said that straight after the game the next person has to step up and we carry on doing what we do.”

Bristol also look set to be without captain Fitz Harding for Saracens after the backrower suffered a head knock on Sunday and is still going through the return to play protocols following a failed HIA. The better news is talismanic flanker Steven Luatua looks fit to play having limped off with cramp at Ashton Gate. His leadership will be needed more than ever over the coming weeks.

Despite Argentina international Benjamin Elizalde not being named in the Pumas’ squad to face the Springboks at Twickenham on Saturday in the final round of The Rugby Championship, Lam confirmed he has not returned to the club early to help ease the shortage the Bears are facing at full back with Rich Lane and Noah Heward both sidelined and now Tom Jordan required at fly-half.

Lam said: “He’s still part of the Argentina squad, still training with them, so it’s good to see Santi Grondona get a game. I think this is his first game since he’s been there and I think he’s down to start, so it’s good to see. Nothing has changed. We’re prepared for Santi, Ben and Pedro [Rubiolo] to be back next Monday.”