Rugby Union: No green light yet for Bath

SIMON GEOGHEGAN, whose last rugby of any serious note came in the thrashings experienced by Ireland in their two June Tests against Australia in Brisbane, has a further wait before kicking off his league season in Bath colours, writes Barrie Fairall.

The tearaway wing, who switched to the champions from London Irish, hoped to make his first-team Courage debut in tomorrow's home match against Wasps. Instead, he has a calf strain.

As a result, Bath recall Adedayo Adebayo, whose last league appearance came three weeks ago in the visit to Northampton, where he ran in the first of three tries.

John Hall is back to lead the side after popping a rib cartilage at Franklin's Gardens, replacing Steve Ojomoh in the back row. Jon Callard, who had knee problems, also returns, taking over at full- back from Audley Lumsden.

Stuart Davies, the Wales and Swansea back row, has a chance to face South Africa later this month in spite of the fact that he has not played since April. Davies, who resumes for his club this weekend after a knee operation, is in the Wales A squad for the match against the Springboks at Newport on 26 October.

Nigel Walker, Gwilym Wilkins, Simon Hill, Aled Williams, Adrian Davies, Ian Buckett, Mike Griffiths and Paul Arnold are the other capped players included.

Dunvant have a player in a senior national squad for the first time in the No 8 Paul Morris, while Treorchy, who have taken Alun Harries, the former Wales B wing, on board from Neath, are represented by the centre Lloyd Davies.

The Welsh Rugby Union, meanwhile, yesterday announced that CIS, the Manchester-based insurance group which backs England's divisional and county rugby, will sponsor the seven-match Welsh leg of the South African tour to the tune of pounds 75,000.