Rugby

Leinster’s injury list grows after international break

Sexton set for three to five weeks out while Gibson-Park and Conan are being assessed

Ireland’s James Ryan leaves the pitch after a head injury in the win over Argentina. Photo: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Gerry Thornley's face
Gerry Thornley
Mon Nov 22 2021 - 15:52

Leinster were always liable to suffer the biggest toll from Ireland’s three-game Autumn Series and so it has proved. In addition to confirming that captain Johnny Sexton will be sidelined for another three to five weeks, the province have said that Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Conan will be “further assessed this week” in light of the thigh and quad injuries which ruled them out of Ireland’s 53-7 win over Argentina.

It seems unlikely either of the latter two will feature against Ulster in the URC at the RDS next Saturday night (kick-off 8pm) and likewise James Ryan, who “has entered the Graduated Return to Play Protocols” according to a Leinster update.

Given their upcoming schedule of Irish derbies and European games, some others may also be in a line for a rest after starting all three of Ireland’s autumnal Tests. Into this category fall Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris.

Sexton will miss the next two home derbies against Ulster and Connacht as well as Leinster’s opening Heineken Champions Cup game against Bath at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, December 11th, and potentially their ensuing games away to Montpellier and then Munster on Stephen’s Day.

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There was some good news in that flanker Will Connors will return to training this week following a knee injury “and will be further assessed during the week”. Prop Thomas Clarkson has also returned to full training after playing in Dublin University’s excellent 27-25 win away to Lansdowne last Friday night following a hamstring injury.

However, against that, Conor O’Brien will be unavailable for a number of months after a hamstring injury in the Leinster ‘A’ game last week, and the back injury Dave Kearney suffered in that match will sideline him “for a few weeks”. Michael Milne (calf) and Rory O’Loughlin (shoulder) remain longer term absentees.