CONNACHT WILL HAVE both Ultan Dillane and Jack Carty back in action sooner than expected after the province confirmed that neither player will need surgery to rectify their injury problems.
Irish international Dillane emerged as a doubt for the Six Nations last week due to the possibility of an operation being required on the ankle injury he sustained against Ulster on 23 December.
But according to today’s bulletin from the Guinness Pro12 champions, Dillane is expected to return in three-to-four weeks as the 23-year-old lock doesn’t require surgery. Given Connacht’s current injury crisis and Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on 4 February, the news is a boost to respective head coaches Pat Lam and Joe Schmidt.
Carty was replaced after just half an hour of Connacht’s Pro12 defeat to Ospreys on Saturday due to picking up a knee injury. Despite initial concerns of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, the province say the out-half merely sustained a low-grade medial ligament sprain.
Carty will be unavailable for Saturday’s European Champions Cup encounter against Zebre at the Sportsground while his fitness is monitored, but he could be in line to return for the trip to Toulouse eight days later.
As for Connacht’s other fresh injury concerns, Peter Robb is observing the return-to-play protocols after being concussed on Saturday in Wales, while Jake Heenan’s knee injury rules him out for this weekend but he could also be back in contention for the Toulouse game.
Elsewhere, Nepia Fox-Matamua is continuing his rehab for the rib cartilage injury he sustained against Munster on New Year’s Eve. He is unavailable this week but his fitness will be monitored by the medical team.
Elsewhere, Quinn Roux is being treated for a groin injury and will continue to be monitored this week. John Muldoon will resume squad activity today having recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out against Ospreys.
Craig Ronaldson, Dominic Robertson McCoy and Josh Rowland have all been integrated into team training this week following their respective injuries.
Connacht today announced the signings of out-half Steve Crosbie, centre Tom Farrell and prop Peter McCabe. Farrell and John Andress, who recently joined Connacht despite announcing his retirement from rugby last month, have both been added to the province’s Champions Cup squad.
The lad is only interested in money. Golf is second fiddle now
@Fiachra Ahern Esq: did he tell you that himself?
@Fiachra Ahern Esq: Don’t believe that for a second… he has all the money in the world.
He desperately wants to win.
Another below average day at the office for the most overrated over hyped golfer of all time.
@Frank 0 Brien: The stats would suggest otherwise but in fairness your hate must be a better indicator of his golfing prowess.
@Frank 0 Brien: Boring Frank, boring and ill-informed.
@Frank 0 Brien: only golfer in the world that has been consistently in the top 10 of owgr for 10 years now. that’s hardly over rated now is it.
@Frank 0 Brien: 4 majors and he isn’t 30 yet , you my friend don’t have a breeze !
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: hard to see how he is going to win any more with putting and wedge play like we have seen in the last two years from him
@Jem Mehmet: He’s only seen to be over rated because people hailed him as “the next Tiger” which is a mantle anybody would struggle to live up to.
He may not be of the callibre of compettior of a Woods or Nicholas but he has already achieved a phenomenal amount in his career to date, especially compared to the average tour pro.