Rugby:Leinster suffered a pre-season blow with news Stan Wright will be sidelined for up to six months after rupturing his Achilles during last weekend's pre-season friendly defeat against London Wasps.
The versatile Cook Island frontrow will miss all of the province’s Heineken Cup Pool games and will undergo surgery this week. Coach Joe Schmidt confirmed at today’s Magners League launch in Cardiff he will be in the market to find a replacement prop.
He will also be without Mike Ross for Friday night’s friendly against the Leicester Tigers at Welford Road (kick-off 7.30pm). Kevin McLaughlin (knee/shoulder) and Leo Cullen (shoulder) remain long-term injuries, while Shaun Berne (Achilles) is also unavailable.
On a more positive note Scotland and Lions international Nathan Hines is expected to be fit, while Luke Fitzgerald, Fergus McFadden, Sean O’Brien and Devin Toner all came through the opening pre-season encounter on their return from injuries.