Leinster get some serious muscle back for Euro play-offs

INJURY UPDATE: Leinster will not just get back the bulk of their internationals, but also some serious muscle will be returning for their Champions Cup quarterfinal encounter with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday.

Star players like Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Tadhg Furlong, Hugo Keenan, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan, James Lowe, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne all missed the just completed two-match United Rugby Championship tour to South Africa.

They have returned to training, along with the full squad back from South Africa, and will begin their preparation for Saturday at the province’s base in Dublin.

Coach Leo Cullen also revealed that both Ryan Baird and Rónan Kelleher are back in full training this week for the last-eight clash.

Baird has recovered from a back injury picked up on international duty with Ireland, while Kelleher was a late withdrawal from the squad against Sharks in South Africa with a shoulder knock.

Max Deegan (shoulder) will be further assessed this week before a final decision is made on his availability to face Leicester.

Cullen will be without hooker James Tracy who is ruled out with a neck injury.

There are no further updates on Dave Kearney (hamstring) and Will Connors (knee).

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* Meanwhile Leicester Tigers coach Steve Borthwick talked up the size of the challenge they face this week.

Tigers have won every game they have played in this season’s competition and are top of the Premiership, but Borthwick is under no illusions as to how difficult it will be for them to defeat Leinster and reach the semifinals.

Borthwick said the challenge was illustrated by the size of Leinster’s player pool.

“I think everybody knows what a great team Leinster is and the incredible record they have in Europe,” Borthwick said in an interview on the team’s website.

“It is an organisation with incredible resources and depth; you just need to look at the fact they have been able to leave a team at home while they tour South Africa to prepare for next week’s game.

“That’s not something many teams are able to do, it’s not something we are able to do in the Premiership, and we know it will be big challenge.”

Source: @leinsterrugby & @LeicesterTigers

Build-up to @LeicesterTigers on Saturday in @ChampionsCup well underway here in UCD 💪 #LEIvLEI #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/S0GJXkjyko

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 2, 2022