Forgotten Irish backrow closing in on return to rugby after horror injury

Ireland and Leinster flanker Dan Leavy has given an update on his long road to recovery following a devastating knee injury last March.

The 25-year-old suffered the injury in Leinster’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Ulster, and has since had multiple operations on his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. This subsequently ruled him out of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup campaign, but he is nearing a return to action.

Leavy recently shared on social media that he is back running again after ten months out, thanking his physio for the help he has received, saying he is “delighted with how the knee is feeling and really excited for what the next few months hold!”

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It may be a while still before fans see the 11-cap forward playing in a Leinster shirt, as it will be some time before he regains match fitness. But with a lot of rugby still left in the season for the province, he could feature at some point.

This is bringing to an end a gruelling 18 months for the flanker, where he has missed a lot of rugby. Prior to this latest setback, Leavy had missed four months of action with a calf injury, and had only just returned for the contest against Ulster.

The loose forward has not played for Ireland since November 2018, and while he will miss the current Six Nations, which is underway, the summer tour to Australia could be within his reach, and he will want to impress new coach Andy Farrell upon his return.

Leavy has never lost a match in an Ireland shirt, and featured extensively in his country’s successful 2018, playing in every match of their Grand Slam campaign. Farrell and Leinster’s Leo Cullen will hope he regains the form he showed two years ago when he returns.

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