Blackrock College players Bob Casey and Emmet Farrell are to undergo surgery once again. Casey will visit consultant Ray Moran, a brother of former Dublin, Manchester United and Ireland star Kevin, today and the expectation is he will have to undergo minor knee surgery for the second time in three months. He should be out for two to three weeks and could be back in time for Leinster's final European Cup pool match against Toulouse in France.

Farrell's run of misfortune is reaching epic proportions as this column has already catalogued. Having already had surgery on a cruciate knee ligament and been sidelined for eight months, he tore the ligament once again in a match against Lansdowne. He will undergo a knee reconstruction in the first week in January in a bid to get back playing. His self-deprecating humour has helped him through a frustrating period in his career. "I should be able to play again in about six months. At this stage, it just feels like I am going from one pre-season training to another without getting the benefit of playing matches."

He certainly deserves a break - metaphorically speaking, of course.