Leinster lose Rhys Ruddock for rest of the season

Matt O'Connor must have surely thought his luck with injuries was turning.

No sooner had Leinster's head coach pencilled Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy into his Champions Cup squad than he is etching out the name of Rhys Ruddock. The back-rower's season looks over after an initial operation on a broken arm failed to rectify the problem. The set-back comes in the same season that Ruddock made his breakthrough with the Irish rugby team, featuring in wins over South Africa and Australia. Leinster forwards coach Leo Cullen says, 'Rhys had an issue with his arm. He's been managed, unfortunately he is still with that. It's from the broken arm [sustained against Harlequins in December] and it's not healing properly. 'He's struggling with that. He's out of the mix. He's getting redone [another operation]. He will get a plate and is pretty much [out for the season].' Ahead of next Saturday's European Cup clash with Bath, Cullen had slightly better news about Kane Douglas, Richardt Strauss - 'just a bang' - and Eoin Reddan. He comments:

'Redser took a bang to the head. He didn't have any [concussion-like] symptoms but with some big games coming up, the thinking was with Isaac Boss on the bench, Redser will follow those return to play protocls and we will see how he is. He was pretty much symptom free after the game.

'Kane has had a bit of on ongoing issue with his lower back and hamstring. We will manage him through the week and see how he goes. He should be okay for selection.'