RHYS RUDDOCK IS ahead of schedule in his comeback from a serious hamstring injury and fears he would miss the rest of the season have eased, with the flanker now targeting a return in a number of weeks, rather than months.
The Leinster back row suffered a Grade 3 hamstring tear in the province’s Champions Cup win over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in early December, and after surgery to repair the damage, has responded well to the initial stages of rehabilitation.
While coy on setting out a definite return date, and highlighting that a number of markers still need to be hit, the 27-year-old could provide Leinster a boost by being back and available in time for the Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens on 1 April.
Ruddock has yet to resume full running but has made good progress in recent weeks while working with Leinster’s medical team and his rehab programme will now focus on mechanical and conditioning work ahead of his return to contact sessions.
“It’s really good, a little bit quicker than I thought to be honest which is positive,” he told The42 this morning.
“I still have a lot of work to get done to get back on the field but I’m hoping everything goes as smoothly as the last few months and if so I could be back in a number of weeks as opposed to months. It’s positive at the moment.
“The first batch of the rehab has gone really well, and so far, so good. I’m ahead of schedule. I’d say I will definitely be fit before the end of the season.
“Just a case of how long depending on how the next few weeks go but yeah more than likely be fit before the end of the season. I’d be confident about that.”
Ruddock added that the best case scenario would be a mid-March return, giving him time to build minutes up again before Leo Cullen’s side welcome Saracens to the Aviva Stadium on Easter Sunday.
The injury setback couldn’t have come at a more unfortunate time for the 19-time capped Ireland international, who had been in a rich vein of form for club and country and would most certainly have played a big role in the current Six Nations campaign.
Ruddock captained Ireland during the summer tour of USA/Japan and featured in all three of the November internationals, before suffering the injury during Leinster’s 18-8 pool victory at Sandy Park.
“It probably was a bit [cruel],” he added. “I was trying to poach a ball and I got hit at an awkward angle by one player and pretty much immediately after got hit by a second player in a clean out.
“Whatever way it just put me in a compromised position and probably a position if you tried to get yourself into you couldn’t do it again. Just unfortunate really. It wasn’t a running injury where you could say there was a way to prevent it. An unfortunate one but everything so far — the surgery and the repair — have all been positive.
“I told the physio exactly what happened when he came on; ‘I’ve pulled my hamstring, I felt it pop off’ so it was pretty obvious. It wasn’t actually the most painful thing but whatever it was, the sensation was something I’ve never felt.
“I could just feel exactly where it was and that it was up the top of my leg. I kind of knew what it was and it was confirmed when they had a look at me inside. Kind of knew roughly what had happened and I suppose that helped me come to terms with it pretty quickly as opposed to waiting around for scans.
“I already knew the road I was about to go down — but it’s all been positive and hopefully I’ll be back within a number of weeks now.”
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All the pressure on Offaly today and they were well deserved winners. Hopefully they will progress to senior level and they’ll compete in the All-Ireland series in 4/5 years time. Congratulations from a KK supporter
@Niall Egan: Fancied Offally to win this. Especially after the heartache of losing a minor and under 20. Some very good hurlers coming through.
@Ray Ridge: Brilliant
What a team…the most likeable team in the gaa at the moment.. thank you Leo..
There won’t be a bunker raked in esker hills tomorrow
Some group of hurlers just shows what can be done when everyone is on the same page, Workrate, teamwork, determination, skill and bottle in abundance they have it all.
Go on The Faithful county
Congrats to Offaly. They completely out hurled Tipp and could have won by much more.
Screeney is a class act and we all know that already. Dan Bourke was my man of the match. Imperious at centre forward. His goal put the game to bed just when Tipp had responded well to the first Offaly goal and looked like the game would go to the wire.
The joke among Tipp fans leaving the ground was at least the traffic won’t be bad leaving with all the Offaly fans celebrating back on the pitch.
It was the best atmosphere at a game in years thanks to the great Offaly support.
Enjoy the celebrations in Birr, Banagher, Tullamore and the rest of Offaly. Third time is a charm as someone else posted and this team are great champions.
Super atmosphere in KK,the place was mega.great game of hurling and Offaly never looked like they were going to come 2nd this evening.commiserations to a very good Tipperary team who had us on the edge of our seats at times alright but congratulations to the Faithful ! Up Offaly
Delighted for Offaly and Leo as well. Great stuff!
A Limerick man over a swashbuckling Offaly side winning an AI, Leo should get the senior job in a few years time with the majority of that side breaking through.
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: the legend Eamon Cregan was also an adopted Limerick man and wiped the floor with his own county to bring glory to the Offaly senior team.
Better team won, no complaints, hopefully a few players from both set ups make the step up to senior level over the next few years.
What a brilliant atmosphere at the game, despite being on the losing side, just home watching the Saturday game, could have done with more coverage, interviews etc.