Simon Easterby receives mixed Emerging Ireland injury update

Leinster flanker James Culhane has been passed fit to team up with Emerging Ireland for their three-match tour in South Africa next month. 

The 21-year-old only managed two minutes of Leinster's opening match of the United Rugby Championship season against Edinburgh on Friday night before leaving the field with a head injury after coming on as a substitute. This came just days after being named in Simon Easterby's 33-man Emerging Ireland squad.

Ahead of their clash with Dragons on Friday at the Aviva Stadium, Leinster have confirmed that their flanker is available after passing all head injury assessments.

Easterby's side will face the Pumas on Wednesday October 2, followed by the Western Force on Sunday October 6, before taking on the Cheetahs on Wednesday October 9.

Elsewhere in the Leinster squad, Ireland scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park came through the match unscathed following a hamstring injury that ruled him out of his country's series in South Africa in July.

Prop Michael Milne and another Emerging Ireland pick, wing Tommy O'Brien, are a greater concern for Leo Cullen, however.

Milne left the field in the second half in the Scottish capital with an ankle injury, while O'Brien did not see out the first quarter of the match before succumbing to a hamstring injury.

The pair will receive further assessment this week before a decision is made over O'Brien's participation in the Emerging Ireland tour.

New signing RG Snyman will also take another step towards a return from a foot injury after stepping up his rehabilitation this week.

Emerging Ireland squad

Forwards (18):

Jack Aungier (Lansdowne FC/Connacht)

Jack Boyle (UCD RFC/Leinster)

James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster)

Jordan Duggan (Naas RFC/Connacht)

Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)

Ronan Foxe (Garryowen FC/Munster)

Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)

Sean Jansen (Connacht)

Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)(captain)

Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster)

Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)

Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)

Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)

Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)

Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)

Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)

Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)

Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)

Backs (15):

Shayne Bolton (Connacht)

Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)

Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)

Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)

Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)

Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)

Tommy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster)

Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Munster)

Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)

Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)

Jude Postlethwaite (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)

Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

Rob Russell (Dublin University FC/Leinster)

Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)