Ronan Kelleher to miss Ireland’s November Tests due to ankle injury

Ireland's plans for the upcoming November Test series have suffered a blow as Leinster's Ronan Kelleher has been ruled out following an ankle procedure.

The hooker sustained the injury during last weekend's match in Treviso, leaving him sidelined for approximately four to six weeks.

Kelleher, a key player for Ireland, will miss the series of four Test matches in November.

His absence will be a significant loss as Ireland faces a challenging set of fixtures. Leinster Director of Rugby Leo Cullen confirmed the injury update, stating that the exact timeline for Kelleher's return is still uncertain.

In more positive news for Leinster, Robbie Henshaw is expected to return to full training ahead of their match against Connacht next Saturday.

Although Henshaw has been slower to recover, Cullen remains optimistic that the Ireland and British & Irish Lions star will be back in action soon. Henshaw’s return would provide a significant boost to Leinster and potentially Ireland ahead of the Test series.

Leinster will also be without Joe McCarthy, Jimmy O’Brien, and Jordan Larmour for their sold-out clash against Munster at Croke Park. McCarthy and O’Brien sustained minor injuries during last week’s match, while Larmour picked up a training niggle that ruled him out of contention.

RG Snyman, the Springbok forward, will take center stage against his former club in what promises to be a fiercely contested match. Cullen praised Snyman’s impact at Leinster, noting his strong performances and leadership within the squad since recovering from his Rugby Championship injury.

As Leinster manage their injury concerns, the focus will shift to the availability of key players ahead of Ireland’s crucial November Tests.