Monday Round-Up

Boost for Schmidt: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has been handed a timely boost ahead of next weekend’s opening round of Six Nations action, as news filters through of improvements in the fitness of a trio of key players. Having come through Friday night’s encounter with the England Sacons unscathed, Sean O’Brien is welcomed back into an international squad for the first time in 12 months, while there is also positive news with regards to Conor Murray and Cian Healy. The latter has yet to play for his province Leinster since ramping up his rehabilitation from a troublesome hamstring injury, but is expected to feature at domestic level before making his return to the international fold. Scrumhalf Murray, arguably Ireland’s finest player over the course of the last 18 months and a vital cog in the Joe Schmidt wheel, continues to make good progress and has trained fully with the rest of the squad. Murray is the most likely to be thrown into the mix against Italy this Saturday, while Sean O’Brien may make a cameo appearance from the bench as he continues his recovery. Elsewhere, the likes of Michael Bent, Noel Reid and Rob Herring have all returned to their respective clubs after the Saxons game.

Horie out: Japanese international Shota Horie will play no part in this year’s Super Rugby championship, after suffering an injury to his neck. Horie, who was originally contracted to the Melbourne Rebels, incurred the injury while playing for the Panasonic Wild Knights in the Japanese Top League. Horie, a hooker by trade, was expected back in Melbourne for the beginning of the league campaign with Tony McGahan’s side, but has chosen to remain on Japanese soil to continue his rehabilitation ahead of this year’s forthcoming World Cup in England. In the absence of Horie, the Rebels have moved quickly to secure a quality replacement and have signed former Western Force and Biarritz hooker, Ben Whittaker. Whittaker, a former Australia U20 international, had impressed during a trial period at the club and will provide ample competition to the likes of Tom Sexton and Pat Leafa.

Ryan Sheady