Three Ireland stars nursing injuries ahead of Six Nations

Three of Ireland’s most high-profile players are nursing injuries 12 days out from the opening Six Nations match against Wales in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

A medical update issued by Leinster today detailed the state of play for the three, although they appear to still be on course for the tournament.

Tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong picked up a calf issue during Leinster Rugby’s 89-7 win over Montpellier the weekend before last.

Rob Kearney and Alfie Barbeary – A Lion and a Wasp | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 17

Rob Kearney and Alfie Barbeary – A Lion and a Wasp | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 17

Meanwhile second row James Ryan is nursing a hamstring issue which saw him miss Leinster’s last two Heineken Champions Cup games.

“Both Tadhg Furlong (calf) and James Ryan (hamstring) have been making good progress and will continue their rehabilitation with the Irish Rugby medical team.”

There is also a new injury to in-form flanker Josh van der Flier, although it is described as minor. The openside has been in tryscoring form for the province, running in break away tries against both Montpellier and Bath on consecutive weekends.

“Josh van der Flier has a minor groin injury, picked up against Bath, and will also be assessed by the Irish Rugby medical team,” the statement read.

Winger ace Jordan Larmour was temporarily removed from play against Bath after picking up a facial injury but he is still expected to be available for the Six Nations.

Elsehwere Munter’s Keith Earls picked up a minor strain and pulled out of last weekend’s victory over Wasps.

Both James Lowe looks set to miss some or all of the tournament with a hamstring injury while the luckless Dan Leavy is miss the tournament with a wrist injury. He underwent a procedure to stabilise a fracture in his wrist earlier this month and will be unavailable for at least two months.

37-MAN IRELAND SIX NATIONS SQUAD 2022:

BACKS:
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 33 caps
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 2 caps
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 27 caps
Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 10 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 4 caps
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 27 caps
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 96 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 12 caps
Mack Hansen (Connacht) uncapped
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 53 caps
James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 16 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps
Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 92 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 101 caps CAPTAIN

FORWARDS:
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 6 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 18 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 25 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 22 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 12 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 52 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 112 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 65 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 23 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 16 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 45 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 79 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 2 caps
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 40 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 40 caps
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 2 caps
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 3 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps

Development Player
Cian Prendergast (Connacht)