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Injury Update

McGrath all clear for Lions tour after x-ray and Sean O'Brien passes scan too

Johnny Sexton had a HIA after Leinster’s Pro12 semi-final defeat but will train tomorrow.

JACK MCGRATH WILL be fit to travel to New Zealand with the Lions at the end of the month, with the blow to the arm he suffered during Leinster’s Pro12 semi-final defeat to the Scarlets not as serious as initially feared.

inpho_01212132 Jack McGrath shifting tin at Carton House today. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

The Leinster loosehead underwent an x-ray after Friday night’s clash, but came through all clear and trained with the Lions at Carton House today.

“He’s fine,” said Lions head coach Warren Gatland this evening. “He had an x-ray and it’s clear, just some bruising.”

Gatland also confirmed that Sean O’Brien has come through a scan on his calf injury without any major concerns and he is also expected to be fit to start the tour.

“I think Sean is probably more concerned that we are, in terms of he is frustrated because he felt he probably overloaded himself last week with the amount of training he did in preparing for the game, considering he hadn’t had a lot of rugby,” said Gatland.

“He probably needed to take a little more time easing into it. We’re making sure we take time in easing him into it properly. Having chatted to him, he feels confident he’s going to be 100%. The scan came back pretty good, so we’re happy.”

Leinster out-half Johnny Sexton underwent a Head Injury Assessment following Leinster’s defeat to the Scarlets, but Gatland said the 31-year-old passed it and will train with the Lions tomorrow.

“He had no symptoms on the HIA, there was no concussion from that, so we’re expecting him to take a good part in training tomorrow and then later in the week.”

Jonathan Sexton and Ken Owens Sexton did a Wattbike session as others trained on the pitch. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

The Lions will spend this week training in Ireland at Carton House, where Joe Schmidt’s national squad base themselves during the Six Nations and November Tests.

After last night’s hammer blow of losing Billy Vunipola to a shoulder injury that has ruled him out of the trip to New Zealand, Gatland was pleased to report that the Lions have no new major injury worries after the weekend’s Pro12 and Premiership semi-finals.

Captain Sam Warburton returned to full contract training in Carton House today, while Wales hooker Ken Owens is progressing well and should be fit for the start of the tour.

“We’re pretty good really,” said Gatland. “We’ve got a couple of guys who got bangs on Saturday just recovering from that, but most of the guys are making good progress.

“You’re always going to have to two or three guys that are, for whatever reason, not taking a full part in training, not taking contact or doing modified session. Some of the guys are just taking an extra day before taking to the field tomorrow.”

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