Leinster is still undecided on the game-readiness of their players Garry Ringrose and Jimmy O’Brien. Cian Healy’s fitness has also become questionable due to an injury, ahead of the forthcoming quarter-final in the Champions Cup against La Rochelle this weekend.
James Ryan, part of the second row, will be on the sidelines as he is still recuperating from arm surgery. Ringrose, who has a shoulder problem, and O’Brien, with a neck issue, were unable to play in Leinster’s win against the Leicester Tigers on Saturday. Healy, who was part of that match, was taken off the field before the game ended due to a leg injury. Ringrose, O’Brien and Healy, together with Charlie Ngatai who injured his calf, still need another check-up before it can be confirmed whether they can play in the weekend’s match, the province annoucned.
Luke McGrath, the province’s scrumhalf, is now available to play after completing his return to play procedures following a head injury that made him miss Saturday’s match against the Bulls. Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Ciarán Frawley and Andrew Porter were able to participate in the recent Saturday game without any issues after having recovered from their own individual injuries.
Leinster will go up against La Rochelle, coached by Ronan O’Gara, this Saturday at the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm), marking their fifth meeting since 2021. La Rochelle, the previous champion, took home the title after a win at Aviva during last year’s closing game, which followed their 2022 victory. However, Leinster secured their first ever win against La Rochelle in a match at the Stade Marcel Deflandre in December, beating them 16-9.