Eire captain Caelan Doris’ availability for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia is doubtful as Leinster say he may have a “process” on a shoulder damage.
The 27-year-old, who has been touted as a possible Lions captain after taking on as Eire skipper earlier than final yr, was damage throughout Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton Saints on Saturday.
Andy Farrell, who appointed Doris as Eire captain, names his Lions squad on Thursday.
“The total extent of the damage, and implications for the summer season, will not be recognized till after the process,” learn a press release from Leinster.
Nevertheless, talking to reporters in a while Monday, Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber says he fears the damage Doris is “fairly critical”.
“He noticed a specialist and I feel there’s some additional investigation that must be achieved,” Nienaber stated of Doris, who was compelled off with 1 / 4 of the Saints recreation remaining.
“Fingers crossed that issues aren’t as unhealthy as we predict it’s, however within the final couple of months that I’ve labored with Caelan, he isn’t a man that essentially comes off the pitch with damage.
“So after I subjectively noticed him coming off the pitch on Saturday, I believed in my thoughts, ‘that have to be fairly critical’.
“We’ll most likely know extra within the again finish of the week, however my intestine, and it is solely intestine, says that I feel it is likely to be critical, however fingers crossed it won’t be.”
The Lions tackle Argentina in Dublin on 20 June earlier than travelling to Australia. Farrell’s facet face the Wallabies in three Exams on 19 July (Brisbane), 26 July (Melbourne) and a couple of August (Sydney).
