LEINSTER’S IN-FORM FLANKER Rhys Ruddock will see a surgeon this week after being helped off early with a hamstring injury during Leinster’s Champions Cup pool win over Exeter Chiefs.
The 27-year-old, who captained Ireland during the summer and for the clash against Fiji, was replaced by Josh van der Flier in the second half of the 8 – 18 win in Sandy Park.
While Leinster’s injury update merely stated that the flanker had suffered a hamstring injury, The Evening Herald today reported that Ruddock has suffered a grade three hamstring tear, and so there are concerns that he could be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Aside from the loss of Ruddock there was positive news on Leinster’s injury report at UCD today with Jonathan Sexton not even featured after a bang on his thigh brought Isa Nacewa on to kicking duty in Exeter.
Adam Byrne will return to full training this week having complained of pain in his knee since making his international debut in Ireland’s win over Argentina. Ross Molony will also return to on-field sessions as he steps up his recovery from a knee injury.
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Ruddock’s career has been on the up-and-up since his performance against Clermont in last year’s European semi-final. Hopefully he makes a quick recovery.
@EK: Was that not the game where Fritz Lee and co dominated the Leinster back row??
@Brian Shaw: that is a very reductive way of understanding what really happened that way to suit some ill-conceived counter point. Clermont definitely had a lot of joy at the breakdown, but Ruddock was phenomenal was was a real leader of the charge which nearly (and easily could have) resulted in a comeback.
@Conor Paddington: He had a fantastic game when it came to tackling and carrying and he drove them on, but the most important thing is to protect the ball at the breakdown, Leinster got turned over a lot, especially when they had momentum. He was not solely responsible for it but he had a part to play in that aspect of the game.