Updated 17.25
IRELAND’S SIX NATIONS preparations have been dealt a blow with confirmation that Luke Fitzgerald will miss the tournament.
Ireland team manager Mick Kearney revealed news of the medial ligament injury today, after Fitzgerald went down during Friday’s open training session at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland will not call-up a replacement to squad and the utility back is set to miss six to eight weeks of rugby.
“A tackling drill at the Aviva,” Kearney explained as the backdrop for Fitzgerald’s latest slice of misfortune.
“His foot just got caught in the grass and twisted his knee, so fairly innocuous and he’s unlucky to be out of the Six Nations, but I suppose it could have been worse.
He was very upset to be honest and probably feared the worst. He’s had a very good run injury wise since the end of last season, had a great World Cup and was flying right up until the open session.”
Fitzgerald started Ireland’s Championship-sealing match against Scotland last year, and provided a spark from the replacements bench to create two tries in Ireland’s ill-fated World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.
The Leinster man is capable of playing anywhere outside of the 10 channel in the back-line and lined out as both a centre and wing for Ireland during the World Cup.
Fitzgerald tweeted this evening: “Tough getting injured in training — feels like time robbed. In the grand scheme, still a lucky guy, despite appearances to the contrary.”
-Originally published 13.20
