Leinster and Ireland reportedly dealt Caelan Doris hammerblow

Leinster and Ireland have suffered another setback, with captain Caelan Doris expected to remain sidelined until at least the new year after complications have delayed his recovery from surgery, The Irish Times have reported.

The No. 8 injured his foot during Leinster’s United Rugby Championship final victory over the Bulls in June and underwent surgery, with a knee procedure also carried out. His rehabilitation has since been slowed by an infection in the knee, pushing his anticipated return beyond the Nations Championship in November.

Doris had already missed the southern hemisphere leg of Ireland’s Nations Championship fixtures against Australia, Japan and New Zealand in July, but there had been hope he would return for November’s meetings with Argentina, Fiji and South Africa, as well as the finals weekend at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

Instead, the 28-year-old is understood to be targeting an early-January comeback, which would put him in contention for Leinster’s final Champions Cup pool matches against Pau and Leicester before Ireland’s Six Nations campaign begins.

The news comes as Leinster prepare to face the Sharks in Durban after opening their URC season with a 27-26 defeat to the Lions at Ellis Park.

United Rugby Championship

Leo Cullen confirmed this week that there was no fresh update on Doris, with several other players unavailable or being monitored. There is yet to be an official statement on the setback or when the back-row is expected to take the field again.

Cormac Foley will increase his involvement in training as he works back from a calf injury, while Max Deegan and Harry Byrne will miss the Sharks game after sustaining concussions and entering the graduated return-to-play process.

Josh Ericson will undergo further assessment on a neck injury, while there were no further updates on Jack Boyle, RG Snyman, Paddy McCarthy, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jordan Larmour, Diarmuid Mangan and James Culhane.