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United-rugby-championship
Leinster and Ireland have suffered another setback, with captain Caelan Doris expected to be sidelined until at least the new year after complications delayed his recovery from surgery, The Irish Times have reported.
The number 8 injured his foot during Leinster’s United Rugby Championship final victory over Bulls In June, he underwent surgery, and a knee procedure was also performed. His rehabilitation has since been slowed by a knee infection, which has pushed his expected return further away Nations Championship in November.
Doris has already missed the Southern Hemisphere game in Ireland’s Nations Championship game against Australia, Japan and New Zealand July, but there was hope that he would return for the November meetings with Argentina, Fiji and South Africa, as well as the final weekend at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.
Instead, the 28-year-old is understood to be targeting an early January return, which would put him in contention for Leinster’s final Champions Cup pool games against Pau and Leicester before Ireland Six Nations the campaign begins.
The news comes as Leinster prepare to face off Sharks in Durban after opening their URC season with a 27-26 loss Lions at Ellis Park.
Leo Cullen confirmed this week that there are no further updates on Doris, with several other players unavailable or under surveillance. There is no official word yet on the setback or when the back row is expected to take the field again.
Cormac Foley will step up his involvement in training as he works to recover from a calf injury, while Max Deegan and Harry Byrne will miss the Sharks game after suffering concussion and entering a gradual return to action.
Josh Ericson will undergo further assessment on his neck injury, while Jack Boyle, RG Snyman, Paddy McCarthy, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jordan Larmour, Diarmuid Mangan and James Culhane.
