Bristol Bears get some good news on the Piutau front

Star signing Charles Piutau may make his competitive debut for Bristol Bears sooner than expected.

The club's website this morning have announced that the star fullback's injury is not as bad as first feared that he will not require surgery in his shoulder.

It had initially been feared that he could be sidelined for as long as six months if surgery was required. According to the Bears he could available for selection as soon as late October.

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Piutau had a consultation with a specialist over the weekend and it "was confirmed that Piutau would not require surgery."

His contract with the Bristol based side makes him one of the best-paid players in the game, and they'll be eager to see him back on the pitch as soon as possible.

Head coach Pat Lam said: “We had some really positive news regarding Charles’ shoulder following the surgical consult and it’s great that he won’t be sidelined for too long.

“We don’t want to lose somebody of Charles’ ability for any amount of time, but that’s the nature of the sport and it really underlines the importance of having depth and quality in every position.

“Charles is a hugely positive person and he’s raring to go with his recovery. He’s desperate to play for Bristol Bears and contribute to the team. He will play a big part for the club this season and will be in the mix, battling for a place in the side, in the not too distant future.”

This will undoubtedly prove to be a major boost the Southern-based club who are on a high after a beating local rivals Bath at the weekend.

The addition of Piutau would only strengthen a team that has high aspirations for the season ahead.