Clermont hit by double blow ahead of season

Clermont have been dealt two major injures on the eve of the new Top 14 season to two key players.

Brock James and John Ulugia will both miss the opening months of the new campaign with respective heart and disc issues.

James was originally down to miss two months of the season but now his recovery time will take longer than expected.

Ulugia’s injury is perhaps worse however given that Clermont have Camille Lopez fit and ready for the new season at fly-half, while their stocks at hooker are worryingly slim given that Benjamin Kayser is currently away with France preparing for the Rugby World Cup.

On top of that, scrum-half Ludo Radosavljevic is set to miss the first six to eight weeks of the season with his own injury issues.