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Joe Cokanasiga to return for Bath after almost a year out through injury

Joe Cokanasiga underwent knee surgery in January - REX
Joe Cokanasiga underwent knee surgery in January - REX

England wing Joe Cokanasiga will make his first appearance in almost a year on Tuesday, bringing an end to his injury nightmare after being named as a replacement for Bath against Gloucester at The Rec.

Cokanasiga has not played a competitive match since scoring two tries for England against the USA at last year's Rugby World Cup, taking his Test record to seven tries in nine appearances for his country.

The 22-year-old injured his knee in Japan and was unable to train for Bath on his return from the World Cup, with the club at the time unhappy with the initial information provided by the Rugby Football Union on Cokanasiga's injury.

The 6ft 4in wing subsequently underwent surgery in January, with Bath unable to provide a definitive timeline for his return and providing cautious updates in recent weeks. “He’s working hard and we’re looking forward to that day when we can sit down at a selection meeting and put his name on the board, which won’t be long," Stuart Hooper, Bath's director of rugby, said back in August.

Cokanasiga's last game for the club came in May 2019, making his return a welcome boost for Hooper's side in their bid to make the play-offs, with Bath third in the table and having won six of their seven matches in the Gallagher Premiership since the restart.

Cokanasiga in his last match, for England against the USA - GETTY IMAGES
Cokanasiga in his last match, for England against the USA - GETTY IMAGES

Bath also welcome back Anthony Watson at full-back as one of four changes to their side for the West Country derby, with Semesa Rokoduguni, Elliot Stooke and Tom Ellis also starting.

Gloucester, following defeats to Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins, meanwhile hand a full debut to Argentina second-row Matias Alemanno, while Jack Singleton and Ruan Ackermann also start in the pack.

England scrum-half Willi Heinz also makes his first appearance since the Premiership restart, with Matt Banahan coming into the side at full-back.