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Leinster's Dan Leavy to miss another Six Nations with Ireland
By Kim Ekin
Leinster back-rower Dan Leavy can consider himself one of the most luckless players in recent times as his career has again been affected by an injury. First capped in 2016, the now 27-year-old enjoyed a wonderful 2018 calendar year in the Ireland jersey, starring in the Six Nations Grand Slam title win and going on to feature in the away Test series victory over Australia.
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He won his eleventh cap in that year’s November match versus Argentina but his promising career has since been massively blighted by injury. He missed the 2019 Six Nations with a calf muscle issue and then missed 19 months following a devastating ACL/PCL injury to his knee in a Champions Cup outing versus Ulster in March of that year.
Leavy courageously made his Leinster comeback in October 2020 only to be sidelined again in February 2021 with another knee problem. He has since worked his way back to fitness again and was a starter in three of his four United Rugby Championship appearances this season.
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However, rather than entertaining hopes that a consistent run of selection could get him back into Test contention following his three-year absence from the international scene, he has suffered yet another injury and won’t feature for Leinster in their upcoming Champions Cup games versus Montpellier and Bath.
A Leinster statement read: “There was disappointing news on Dan Leavy. The flanker underwent a procedure to stabilise a fracture in his wrist last week and will be unavailable for at least two months.”
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Meanwhile, two unnamed players have been ruled out of selection for this Sunday’s encounter in Dublin versus the French. “There are currently two players in isolation due to Covid-19 – one as a close contact – and this follows the latest round of PCR testing carried out at Leinster.”
Leinster will be keen to get the show back on the road following the saga of the cancelled trip to Montpellier in December. The Irish province were adamant they had a fit and healthy matchday 23 ready to travel to France despite a virus outbreak in their camp.
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The plug was pulled on the game by an EPCR medical committee and a 28-0 win was awarded to Montpellier, an outcome that left Leinster “disappointed”, a frustration added to by this week’s decision to award 0-0 draws in the postponed round two games featuring French clubs in opposition against teams from the UK.
With subsequent URC fixtures postponed, next Sunday’s game will be Leinster’s first outing since their December 11 European win over Bath.
