Leinster to face Wasps without Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien

Ireland internationals have made good progress but won’t be risked in final pool game

Leinster will not register Sean O’Brien or Cian Healy for Saturday’s trip to play London Wasps. (Photograph: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
Leinster will not register Sean O’Brien or Cian Healy for Saturday’s trip to play London Wasps. (Photograph: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Leinster have not registered either Cian Healy or Sean O'Brien ahead of Saturday's final European Champions Cup pool match against Wasps at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

Healy returned to full contact and scrum work after passing his final benchmark last Monday on his rehabilitation from a hamstring torn off the bone. O’Brien has participated fully in sessions this week after recovering from shoulder surgery.

Both players have shown remarkable recuperative powers and are well ahead of their progressive schedules but not to the point where they would be risked ahead of Saturday’s vital tie. A victory for the home province would guarantee them a home quarter-final while a single point might be enough to see them progress.

A spokesperson from EPC Rugby confirmed that they had received no application to register either player ahead of Tuesday's lunch-time deadline. Leinster had the option of registering one or the other but coach Matt O'Connor will select from the same group of players – Zane Kirchner remains an absentee – who were available for last Saturday's victory over Castres Olympique at the RDS.

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This was confirmed by the province on Tuesday afternoon.

Leinster have also announced that Ben Te’o is available for selection this weekend while Rob Kearney, Tadhg Furlong and Michael Bent, who all sat out Monday’s outdoor training session, have returned to full training and are also available at the weekend.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer