Leinster and Ireland fullback Hugo Keenan is likely to be out until the new year after undergoing hip surgery following his return from the Lions tour to Australia, where he scored the match-winning try in the second Test as Andy Farrell’s tourists claimed a 2-1 series win.
He will miss Ireland’s four Test November series, the first game of which is against New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago and then three matches at the Aviva Stadium against Japan, Australia and world champions South Africa.
Joe McCarthy will also be sidelined for the foreseeable future with the same foot issue that curtailed his involvement in the Lions tour. But there was better news in that Leinster captain Caelan Doris, who had shoulder surgery after picking up an injury in the Champions Cup semi-final defeat to the Northampton Saints, should be back playing by November.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen addressed the media following an open training session at Dr Hickey Park in Greystones, where a sizeable group of largely school going supporters and parents provided a noisy backdrop to proceedings on the pitch.
RM Block
Cullen explained: “Hugo Keenan had surgery post the Lions tour on his hip. He probably won’t feature until the new year. Exactly what point, I’m not sure yet. The other one is Joe McCarthy. He’s an issue with his foot.
“He had an issue with the Lions, but he’s made it worse anyway. So, he’s had a bit of a setback. Whether he’s out ‘til November [I’m not sure], but he is not going to feature for us anyway in that first block [of matches]. It’s early days, and I don’t know [when he will be back] is the honest answer.”
While confirming that Doris would retain the captaincy, Cullen was asked for a potential return date. He replied: “In and around November, whether it’s before, during, or after, I’m not 100 per cent sure yet.”
Both centre Garry Ringrose and secondrow James Ryan who suffered concussion issues during the Lions tour were part of a 45-strong Leinster squad that trained in Greystones. Cullen confirmed that they have not only gone through the return to play protocols but were seen by independent concussion consultants.
Leinster travel to South Africa next Saturday ahead of their opening match in the United Rugby Championship (URC) against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday week where they begin their defence of the title.
They will be without 12 of their 14 Lions but Thomas Clarkson and Jamie Osborne, who were summoned as replacements to Australia from the Ireland tour, will be part of the travelling player group this weekend. Leinster’s Lions will start to reappear on team-sheets in rounds three and four of the URC.
RG Snyman is with South Africa, while Rieko Ioane won’t join until after New Zealand’s November Tests. Rabah Slimani played for France on their summer tour, bridging a gap of six years since his last international cap in 2019. In all, 27 Leinster players played Test rugby during the summer/autumn period.
All 10 members of the Irish squad for the Tests in Tbilisi and Lisbon will travel to South Africa, where the Irish province will play two matches, the second of which is against the Bulls in Pretoria before returning home and facing the Sharks at the Aviva Stadium.
Cullen also confirmed that Lansdowne prop and former Roscrea pupil Jerry Cahir has earned a three-month contract and will travel with Leinster. “Jerry has come in during preseason and he’s gone well during the course of the last season with Lansdowne. He came in and played an A game towards the tail end of last season and a couple of A games against Ulster.
“He’s been good. He’s a great story,” a reference to the 25-year-old recovering from a serious hamstring injury earlier in his career.
Leinster also gave opportunities to a couple of other players in Joshua Kenny and Joshua Ericson. Cullen said: “They fall under a slightly younger cohort. They’re in with Simon Broughton and the Academy gang.
“Josh Ericson picked up an injury, so he’s going to be out for a few weeks. But JJ [Kenny], I thought he did really well [at the] weekend [in the preseason friendly defeat to Cardiff in Tallaght].
“In terms of the rate of progress that he’s had over the last eight weeks, it’s great to see because he has genuine speed and a really good athletic profile. We’ll watch that space, but it’s more in the Academy space for him right now.”
Cullen was asked about Jacques Nienaber extending his contract – as did Tyler Bleyendaal and Robin McBryde – until the end of the 2025-2026 season. “I think he’s the best defensive coach in the world and that’s what he brings. I don’t think there’s anyone better out there in terms of his pedigree on the biggest stage.
“This season again is slightly more challenging, but we have a defensive system that players understand better. The bulk of the Lions crew who are out there training today have had six sessions, four last week and two this week, but they’re picking up things straight away. There’s a deeper understanding now.
“Coaches always talk about the third year, it’s vital, isn’t it? Two years building in and then you get success, it’s about evolving. Whether you win titles, the trick is to be there in finals and there’s a narrative about losing finals, but listen we’ve won our last one. Is that narrative gone?”
They’ll get the chance to shape the answer in the season ahead.
