LEINSTER WILL BE without number eight Jack Conan until 2016 after he broke a bone in his foot during training this week.
Head coach Leo Cullen says the 23-year-old will be sidelined for six to 10 weeks after suffering the injury at UCD, and that time-frame will keep him out of action until at least the 1 January clash with Connacht at the RDS.
“He’s going to get a procedure done to repair that,” said Cullen.
Numbers are already mounting in the treatment room and the three concussion concerns (Sean O’Brien, Richardt Strauss and Mike McCarthy) after last week’s home defeat to Wasps looking ‘tight’ to complete their return to play protocols in time to travel to the Rec.
However, Cullen was at least upbeat about the prospect of having Ben Te’o, Isa Nacewa, Rob Kearney and possibly Luke Fitzgerald back in the mix for Saturday’s 3.15 kick-off.
“Rob, Luke, Ben and Isa are getting very close. A few of them trained today which is encouraging, so they’re getting close.
“Rhys (Ruddock) is back available.”
Meanwhile, the Leinster academy has been handed a boost with the confirmed appointment of Peter Smyth as its new manager.
Smyth comes in to the role having coached St Mary’s to an All-Ireland League title in 2012 and has six Schools Cup medals (four senior, two junior) as coach of Blackrock College.
“Peter has a proven track record of developing young talent and providing them with the essential attributes to maximize their potential,” says Colin McEntee, the IRFU’s high performance manager.
While Leinster CEO Mick Dawson added that Smyth: ”has an excellent coaching CV but also has an excellent working knowledge of the people and of the structures of the underage and development landscape in Leinster.”
