CONNACHT HAVE CONFIRMED that Ultan Dillane’s season is over following shoulder surgery, while they have also suffered three fresh injury blows with wing Matt Healy, back row Nepia Fox-Matamua and centre Peter Robb ruled out ahead of Saturday’s clash with Glasgow.
Dillane’s shoulder issue was announced by the IRFU two weeks ago, with a timeframe of eight to 10 weeks indicated for his recovery.
Connacht’s latest injury update confirms that the explosive lock “will be unavailable for the remainder of the season,” ending any hope of an earlier comeback, and suggesting that Dillane will miss Ireland’s tour of USA and Japan in June.
Pat Lam’s side have also been dealt three new injury setbacks, with prolific wing Healy ruled out for four to six weeks after injuring his hand in training last week. The 28-year-old previously fractured his hand in October of this season.
Back row Fox-Matamua will undergo surgery next week, having suffered an ACL injury during Connacht’s clash with Treviso last month.
Fox-Matamua underwent an operation for an ACL injury last season too, and has had various other injury issues, meaning this latest bout of surgery is a cruel blow to the openside flanker. Connacht have not provided a timeframe for his recovery.
Powerful midfielder Robb faces a month out of action with a hip injury.
The western province have also announced that out-half Marnitz Boshoff has returned to South Africa following the sudden passing of his father.
The province say their “thoughts and prayers are with Marnitz and his family at this difficult time.”
In a boost for Lam, Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion, Tiernan O’Halloran and Quinn Roux have returned to the Connacht squad ahead of Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 fixture away to Glasgow.
Marmion started Ireland’s win over England last weekend, the final fixture of the Six Nations, but has come straight back into the provincial mix having not been in Joe Schmidt’s starting XV prior to that 13-9 victory.
O’Halloran and Roux were unused members of Ireland’s Six Nations squad and will be eager to get back to making an impression for Connacht.
Wing Cian Kelleher, currently recovering from a hamstring injury, is due to be available in early May, while tighthead Conor Carey is expected back in mid-to-late April as he continues to rehabilitate a foot injury.
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I don’t see how playing in France is going to prolong his career. Best of luck to him though. A great city and a club on the rise again.
@Cian Nolan: ya didn’t get that. Thought maybe he meant he’d make more money??
Toulon are putting together some pack for next year.
@Darren Byrne: Hopefully Toulouse will be able to challenge them with the addition of Arnold.
@Darren Byrne: Toulon, Toulouse, meanwhile the French youngsters get less and less prime exposure at the top level, the demise of the French team is a bad development for NH rugby.