Gray edges closer to playing return

By Mark Stevens
9/3/22

Exeter Chiefs lock Jonny Gray is edging ever closer to a playing return, so says Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter.

The 27-year-old forward has reported back into Scotland’s training camp this week ahead of their latest Guinness Six Nations Championship clash with Italy this Saturday.

It had been reported Gray was unlikely to feature for his country again during the remainder of the tournament after he sustained an ankle injury in his side’s clash with Wales at the Principality Stadium in Round Two.

However, having returned to Devon in the aftermath of that game to undergo treatment on the injury, Gray has made remarkable progress and was called back by Gregor Townsend this week as seeks to get things back on track following the successive losses to the Welsh and the French after an opening-round win over England.

Baxter believes his return North of the Border this week is more for assessment by the Scottish medical staff rather than an immediate return to play.

“He is being assessed this week,” explained Baxter at his midweek media briefing. “It’s not for him to play this weekend, this is an assessment for him this week to see where he is. Although I am not saying he is not going to be picked to play this weekend, that’s not for me to say. I think it is doubtful he will play this weekend.

“A lot of it is an assessment based on getting him available for next week which is good. We will know more when he returns at the end of this week – if he returns. We will know a lot more about where Scotland see him and we will able be able to catch up with the rest of his rehab and see where things can happen for him if called in next week if required.”

Baxter added: “I wouldn’t say they [Scotland] are rushing him back. We think he is kind of on track for that time period. We’re aligned with the Scotland medical team and I’m very aligned with Gregor and we have a lot of contact. He runs that part of things very well. I wouldn’t feel he is being rushed.

“That is about the schedule we would see with the injury and so I just think they want players available. No one really knows week by week in your squad how injuries or form will go. For us, I’m just delighted that he is close to being back and if he gets game time with Scotland or if they return him to us and he is ready to go that would be great.”