Harlequins have confirmed that Marcus Smith will miss tomorrow's Gallagher PREM opener against Bath.
Following a ninth-placed finish last season, Quins will be looking to make a strong start against a Bath side who reached the play-off semi-finals and are widely expected to challenge near the top of the table again this year.
However, the London club will be without their talisman, with Smith ruled out after picking up an injury.
The club confirmed: "Marcus Smith sustained a hand injury in last Friday's friendly against Edinburgh and is ruled out of this tomorrow’s Gallagher PREM opener against Bath Rugby.
"He will be assessed on a week-to-week basis by the Club's medical department in conjunction with England Rugby."
Smith is one of three England internationals who will be unavailable for the match, alongside Fin Baxter and new signing George Furbank.
Speaking at this week's press conference, head coach Jason Gilmore revealed that Baxter is "a couple of weeks away" from returning to action.
Baxter remains unavailable as a precaution while he completes the final stages of his rehabilitation from a foot injury suffered in December 2025. Like Smith, his return will be managed in conjunction with England Rugby.
Furbank, meanwhile, is continuing to work through his return-to-play protocols after being withdrawn early during the Edinburgh fixture with a head injury.
Gilmore said the new signing is progressing well and could return as early as Round 2.
With Smith serving as Quins' primary playmaker, his absence is likely to be the biggest blow of the three. Connor Slevin will step in at fly-half for the opener.
The 23-year-old has made 16 senior appearances for Harlequins and spent much of last season on loan at Richmond in Champ Rugby.
Slevin made his Quins debut in the 2022/23 Premiership Rugby Cup against London Irish before earning his first England U20 cap at the Junior World Championship in the summer of 2023.
The back made the switch from fullback to fly-half, a move which helped him break into the England U20 setup.
HARLEQUINS STARTING XV:
15. Tyrone Green (105)
14. Cameron Anderson (36)
13. Oscar Beard (86)
12. Bryn Bradley (36)
11. Cadan Murley (C) (151)
10. Connor Slevin (16)
9. Will Porter (60)
1. Will Hobson (40)
2. Jack Walker (110)
3. Pedro Delgado (19)
4. James Dun (1)
5. Harry Browne (17)
6. Jack Kenningham (99)
7. Will Evans (134)
8. Chandler Cunningham-South (50)
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Sam Riley (83)
17. Boris Wenger (12)
18. Harry Johnson-Holmes (1)
19. Kieran Treadwell (29)
20. Guido Petti Pagadizábal (17)
21. Lucas Friday (19)
22. Josh Bellamy (8)
23. Rodrigo Isgró (25)
