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McLaughlin was forced off against Connacht at the RDS. Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Cruel

12 weeks out for Leinster's McLaughlin as frustrating season continues

The back row will be sidelined after picking up a shoulder injury against Connacht.

LEINSTER HAVE CONFIRMED that Kevin McLaughlin will be sidelined for 12 weeks after the province’s medical team decided the back row needed shoulder surgery.

The 30-year-old suffered the injury during Leinster’s 21-11  win over Connacht at the RDS on 19 December.

McLaughlin’s season has been greatly stunted by injuries, while the earlier years of the Dublin native’s career were infamously plagued by long spells out of the game.

The St. Mary’s clubman picked up a knee injury early in September of this year, keeping him out of action until Leinster’s clash with Edinburgh on 31 October. McLaughlin was also withdrawn from the province’s clash against Treviso in November with a suspected concussion.

He returned to action against Connacht, making his third start of the campaign, but lasted only 46 minutes before being forced off.

This bad news for Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor is in contrast to the updates issued yesterday, when it was confirmed that Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy are making good progress with their recoveries from shoulder and hamstring surgery, respectively.

Ben Te’o and Fergus McFadden are available for selection for Saturday’s Pro12 clash with Ulster, while tighthead prop Marty Moore is also very close to his return to action. Dominic Ryan has not been ruled out of the tie yet, despite being concussed against Munster at Thomond Park last weekend.

Leinster will name their team to face Ulster at midday on Friday.

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