Heaslip Back In Full Training As Leinster Prepare For Dragons Test

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update from the team’s UCD base ahead of their first GUINNESS PRO14 trip to Newport to face the Dragons on Saturday (kick-off 3.15pm).

Following the pre-season win over Bath last weekend, Leo Cullen outlined that hooker Sean Cronin had come through his 40 minutes with no ill-effects, but that Dave Kearney had to be withdrawn shortly after coming on with a tight groin. Kearney will be assessed again in the coming days.

Cullen also gave a lengthy injury update on a number of players ahead of the first game of the 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14 campaign.

Peter Dooley strained a tendon in his bicep against Gloucester and is a few weeks away from being available, while fellow front row Bryan Byrne strained a knee ligament against Gloucester and is also a few weeks away from being available.

Former Ireland Sevens captain Tom Daly had his operation for an ACL injury last Tuesday and the operation was a success. He will be unavailable for the first half of the season, at least.

Peadar Timmins has an ongoing calf issue that ruled him out of both the Gloucester and the Bath games. He will be unavailable for selection this week. Noel Reid picked up a minor fracture to a bone in his hand against Perpignan and is a few weeks away from being available.

Meanwhile, of the province’s Ireland and British & Irish Lions contingent, Robbie Henshaw had surgery for a pectoral muscle injury picked up while on duty with the Lions but is on track to be back involved ahead of the Champions Cup.

Jonathan Sexton injured his wrist and ankle while on duty with the Lions in New Zealand but is due to return to training ahead of the Champions Cup. Tadhg Furlong and Sean O’Brien are also in that time-frame, with the prop having had an operation to stabilise his thumb and the back rower picking up a shoulder strain during the Lions tour.

Jamie Heaslip is making good progress with his lower back injury following an operation in April. He returned this week to full training, while Garry Ringrose, who is a few months away from a return to action, had a shoulder operation following the Ireland tour to the USA and Japan and is rehabbing well.