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Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued the final injury update of the season and it has come with a sting in the tail for Ireland and Sean O’Brien.
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The final game of the 2018/19 season saw Leinster take home a sixth Guinness PRO14 title, beating Glasgow 15 – 18 at Celtic Park. However British and Irish Lion backrow O’Brien did not feature sparking fears of yet another injury.
A statement from Leinster this afternoon confirmed the worst.
“Unfortunately Cullen has confirmed that back row Seán O’Brien – who lifted the PRO14 trophy yesterday in Celtic Park on behalf of the 57 Leinster players that competed over the 23 game domestic season – will undergo surgery in the next few weeks for a hip injury and as a result will be ruled out of action for up to six months.
“As a result he has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
“There is no other injury of note from yesterday’s final against Glasgow Warriors.
“Everyone at Leinster Rugby wishes Seán the very best of luck with his recovery and of course with his move to London Irish later in the year.”
The injury will come as a blow for newly promoted London Irish, who signed the flanker for a rumored £450,000. The Carlow man’s latter career has been riddled with injury and he will now likely miss the start of the Premiership season with London Irish.
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The club issued the following statement:
London Irish is aware of Sean O’Brien’s injury and the fact that his impending surgery will rule him out of contention to take part in this year’s Rugby World Cup.
London Irish director of rugby, Declan Kidney said: “We are disappointed for Sean that he is not in a position to compete for a place in the Ireland Rugby World Cup squad. We wish him a successful operation and a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him to London Irish for the next stage of his career.”
London Irish is aware of Sean O’Brien’s injury and the fact that his impending surgery will rule him out of contention to take part in this year’s Rugby World Cup.
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— London Irish (@londonirish) May 26, 2019
The 32-year-old is one of Leinster’s most decorated players, having come through the Leinster Academy system and having played 122 times for Leinster since his debut in September 2008 against the Cardiff Blues.
In his time at Leinster he was part of the PRO12 winning squads in 2008, 2013 and 2014 as well as the Guinness PRO14 win last season.
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He has four Heineken Champions Cup medals, starting in the Heineken Cup Finals of 2011 and 2012, and also a Challenge Cup medal in 2013.
Off the back of these impressive performances in the blue of Leinster, he was named European Player of the Year in 2011.
