Updated 14.00
IRELAND TEAM MANAGER Mick Kearney says that Chris Henry’s illness will continue to be investigated despite the flanker ‘feeling well’ this week.
Henry was a late withdrawal from the starting line-up of Saturday’s opening November Test against South Africa with a reported virus.
Kearney today was able to add little clarity other than that Henry had felt weak and that the medical team had updated their working diagnosis.
“Chris Henry is feeling well,” Kearney began his medical report, “however his condition continues to be investigated following an episode on Saturday morning when he was unwell and experienced some weakness. The working diagnosis is a severe migraine.”
Jared Payne’s fitness also remains unclear. The centre limped off late in the game with Joe Schmidt reporting that his fellow Irish Kiwi had suffered a sprained foot.
Despite a scan yesterday, Payne will seek further consultation on the issue tomorrow before any announcement is made for his recovery time-frame.
“Looking back over the video it was quite an innocuous incident where he tackled a player. He did try to run it off, but it tightened up and was quite sore. He’s still quite sore but we’ll probably know more tomorrow. The swelling will have gone down, he’ll have another scan and further medical assessment.”
There is better news of Rory Best, who has returned to running with the medical team ‘positive’ about his chances of being involved this month.
Payne and Best will continue to be managed by the national team’s medical team while Henry has left camp.
Darren Cave, Andrew Conway, Tadhg Furlong and Robin Copeland have all been called into the camp to play a part in the training squad.
- Originally published 13.16
