BATH flanker Francois Louw is likely to miss Friday night's Aviva Premiership showdown with Sale Sharks following the ankle injury he sustained in last weekend's 43-24 triumph at London Irish.

The South African back row was replaced by Guy Mercer early in the second half of the Madejski Stadium, having the injury strapped and will not be risked with such a short turnaround, with Bath planning to take another look at the problem once the swelling has subsided.

First team coach Toby Booth said today: "It (the ankle) was a bit swollen up and Flo is going to be out of action this weekend. When the swelling goes down he'll have another scan and we'll take it from there.''

Bath are not short of further back row options with Mercer, while Carl Fearns on his way back from injury and Mat Gilbert featured in Tuesday's 92-0 thumping of the Royal Navy at the Rec.

Tickets are still available for Friday's clash (7.45pm). Contact the ticket office at 0844 448 1865 or see bathrugby.com.

Bath have teamed up with SOS Kit Aid to call on local schools and rugby clubs to donate as much kit as they can.

tHE SOS Kit Aid programme is a joint venture with The Lord’s Taverners, and supported by the IRB. The programme has donated kit to more than 26 countries and 168,800 disadvantaged children.

All the schools and clubs who take part will be asked to submit their story explaining why they are donating kit and how they are collecting it in a bid to win over the judges for the most compelling story. 

The winner will receive a signed Bath Rugby Shirt as well as rugby kit for their team and the two runners up will receive a signed Bath Rugby Shirt.

“We deliver kit all over the world to disadvantaged children so that they might be able to play sport and change their lives,” said John Broadfoot, CEO of SOS Kit Aid.

“You cannot underestimate how important boots, shorts and shirts are to these children – because sport can really help keep them off the streets, by giving them self-belief, friendship and opportunity.”

Running from March 24-May 2, all competing schools and clubs will be encouraged to give regular updates on their kit collections, photos and stories and will also get the opportunity to learn from the Bath Rugby players about how important their kit donations are.

“As a Club, we have supported Kit Aid for a long time now,” said Bath full-back Nick Abendanon.

“And I, personally, have always tried to do all I can to help Kit Aid because I think that helping others who are less fortunate than ourselves to play sport is really important.

"By creating this really fun challenge for local schools, it’s a great way to get us all working together for a common goal.  I really hope lots of schools can get behind it.”

To enter, visit lvsoskitaid.com/i-want-to-donate/ or to find out more information contact Eugenia Afonso on eugenia.afonso@lvsoskitaid.com. Schools’ or clubs’ entrants must be aged between 5-11.

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