Harry Byrne to miss Leinster’s Champions Cup clash with Sale Sharks

Harry Byrne has been ruled out of Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup clash with the Sale Sharks after sustaining a head injury during last weekend’s victory over La Rochelle. The outhalf has entered the graduated return to play protocols.

Elsewhere, Leinster will await a definitive medical evaluation on Jack Conan and Tadhg Furlong. Prop Michael Milne has returned to full training while Tommy O’Brien (ankle) and scrumhalf Luke McGrath (knee) are nearing a return following injury.

Conan and Furlong picked up “minor niggles” that ruled them out of contention for Leinster’s hard fought 16-9 victory over two-time European champions La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre on Sunday afternoon. The official line is that both will be “assessed later in the week ahead of selection.”

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There was some bad news for scrumhalf Cormac Foley who suffered a shoulder injury in training – he had previously damaged the joint in a match – last week and as a result had a surgical procedure. He will be sidelined for the “next few months,” according to the medical bulletin.

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There is no update regarding outhalf Ross Byrne (bicep), utility back Jamie Osborne (shoulder) and hooker John McKee (hamstring).

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