LEO CULLEN REMAINS on course for a return to rugby in April, with Leinster still hoping to have their captain fit in time for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Cardiff Blues.
Cullen, 34, ruled himself out of this year’s Six Nations to have surgery on his Achilles’ tendons and Leinster said today that the big second row is “progressing well” following last week’s operation.
Cullen was expected to need between six and eight weeks to recover, and could yet be fit for the game against Cardiff in the Aviva Stadium on 7 April.
Elsewhere in the squad, Leinster had plenty of positive news ahead of Thursday night’s RaboDirect Pro 12 game against Benetton Treviso in the RDS.
Back-row Dominic Ryan is close to full fitness after missing the last three months with an ankle injury and hopes to make the frame on Thursday, while Kevin McLaughlin has also recovered from the neck strain which ruled him out in recent weeks.
But Leinster are taking their time over Luke Fitzgerald’s recovery. The winger is expected to be available “either this week or next” once medical staff are satisfied that he has recovered from the neck injury which stalled his chances of making Ireland’s Six Nations squad.
Out-half Mat Berquist has upped his rehabilitation as he continues to recover from a long-term knee injury.
