Leinster have suffered a significant setback ahead of Friday’s United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls, with Ireland loosehead prop Andrew Porter officially ruled out of the showdown at Croke Park.
Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!
Porter was forced from the field during the first half of Leinster’s semi-final victory over the Stormers and will now miss the chance to help Leo Cullen’s side defend their URC crown.
The injury concern will also be monitored closely by Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, who names his squad on Wednesday for July’s Nations Championship fixtures against Australia, Japan and New Zealand.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
More Worries For Leinster
Porter is not the only injury concern for the Dublin giants.
Captain Caelan Doris and hooker Dan Sheehan are both major doubts for the final and will face late fitness tests ahead of kick-off.
Doris picked up a knee injury during the win over the Stormers, while Sheehan was unavailable for the semi-final and remains uncertain for Friday’s decider.
Leinster’s injury list is already extensive, with Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle, Will Connors, Hugh Cooney, RG Snyman, Charlie Tector and Paddy McCarthy all ruled out.
Repeat Of Last Year’s Final
The final is a repeat of last season’s URC decider, which Leinster won convincingly 32-7.
Cullen’s side are chasing back-to-back URC titles after falling short in the Investec Champions Cup final against Bordeaux in Bilbao last month.
For the Bulls, the match represents another opportunity to finally get their hands on the trophy. The South Africans have lost three of the last four URC finals they have reached and are still searching for a first championship success.
With silverware on the line and injury concerns mounting, Friday’s final is shaping up to be a huge test of Leinster’s squad depth.
LATEST RUGBY NEWS
- Saracens player involved in Ben Stokes incident revealed to be 125kg powerhouse
- Super Rugby Women: Round 1 – Brumbies stun Reds to end 2-Year wait for victory
- Ex-Referee Calls Out Hollie Davidson — Fans Are Divided
- Team of the Week – PREM Rugby Round 18
- Ben Stokes nightclub incident timeline: New details emerge
QUIZ: Can you name all 26 teams to have played at the Men’s Rugby World Cups?
Think you know your rugby history? Test your knowledge and see if you can name all 26 teams that have played at the Men’s Rugby World Cup.
You’ve got just 5 minutes on the clock – no pressure!
