Updated 16.40
ROBBIE HENSHAW HAS been ruled out of Connacht’s final Challenge Cup group fixture against La Rochelle.
The Ireland international has been diagnosed with “a low-grade ankle sprain” after picking up a knock in the defeat to Exeter Chiefs on Sunday.
Despite getting the joint strapped up early in the game, Henshaw managed to complete the game and played a central role in the try that earned a consolation bonus point try in the second half.
With Jared Payne only recently returning from injury, the 21-year-old’s sprain will be a further unwanted disruption in the plans of Joe Schmidt as he prepares to name his Six Nations squad on Thursday.
Henshaw could be just one of four Connacht centres missing from next weeks’ visit to France. Bundee Aki was ruled out for over two months with an ankle injury last week, Craig Ronaldson has been ruled out for up to three weeks with a thigh injury sustained in the warm-up at the weekend and Dave McSharry will undergo return to play protocols following a concussion sustained against the Chiefs.
However, there is also some good news for the western province. Kiwi openside Jake Heenan returns to full training this week after a long-term absence and he will be joined by Tiernan O’Halloran. Both should make a return to the field when the Connacht Eagles take on Germany at the Sportsground on Saturday.
Prop Nathan White came through a bruising encounter with the Eagles last week, and he will likely pack down against La Rochelle in the Challenge Cup.
The 33-year-old Irish-qualified prop is also one of three front rows to commit to new two-year contracts with the western province today.
White, who will hope to win a first international cap under his former coach Joe Schmidt this spring, is now contracted at the Sportsground until the summer of 2017 – three months shy of his 36th birthday.
Galway native Ronan Loughney and Australian-born Finlay Bealham have agreed to remain with the province over the same time-frame.
Originally published 11.37
