Connacht injury problems mounting

Guinness Pro12 champions Connacht will have to start their title defence this weekend without forwards Nathan White and Ben Marshall as their long-term concussions persist.

The western province has already lost centre Dave McSharry to a concussion- related retirement this month and head coach Pat Lam has been forced to rule out Ireland international tighthead prop White and lock Marshall from his preparations for this Saturday’s Pro12 opener at home to Glasgow Warriors.

Lam, who has a string of players unavailable due to various injuries, lost the services of both White and Marshall last spring as Connacht pushed to secure the home play-off berth that would ultimately secure their first Pro12 title in May. He has had to wait patiently while the province’s medical staff have overseen the recoveries of both forwards.

“All of the injuries are a concern. But again I trust the medical team, the support they have, and I leave it in their hands. And I just worry about the things I can control and the players available,” Lam said.

“Right through Irish Rugby, it’s all aligned and linked to the medical teams, through (IRFU head of medical services) Rod McLaughlin and all of the medical teams in the provinces. And World Rugby is well aware of the threat of concussion.

“The important thing as an organisation is making sure that our medical teams are all strong and have all the resources available to help players through that and other injuries. It’s one of the first things you need is a strong medical team.”

Lam could use an equally strong playing squad right now with Marshall currently one of seven injured second rows alone. Ireland’s summer debutant Quinn Roux (hip), Andrew Browne (thigh), Sean O’Brien (ankle), Cian Romaine, Peter Claffey and Cillian Gallagher are also carrying knocks, leaving Connacht with Ultan Dillane, Danny Qualter and Lewis Stevenson as the only fit locks in the squad.

Lam confirmed the players who travelled with Ireland to South Africa this summer, excluding Roux but including Dillane, will be available to him this weekend, but their game time will have to be monitored closely in the opening weeks of the season under the IRFU’s player welfare protocols.

“All the Irish boys that were on tour, like the other provinces, have to go through the player management programme. We’ll work closely with Joe (Schmidt) and the team and we have to manage that through until the November internationals,” Lam said.

“We’ve taken a hit in the second-row obviously, and we have to make a decision of how much training they’ve had and who’s ready to go.”

In the back row Eoghan Masterson continues his recuperation for a serious knee injury and is expected to return in December, while openside Jake Heenan will be out until early October due to the lacerated hand he suffered in pre-season.

In the backs Darragh Leader required more surgery on his hand injury and will not return until February, while scrum-half John Cooney (shoulder) and fly-half Craig Ronaldson (thigh) are both expected to miss the first four rounds of the Pro12.

Connacht are looking for their third win in a row over Glasgow, after they defeated the 2015 Pro12 champions twice at the end of last season in Galway, once in the regular season and then in the play-off semi-final.

Both victories came in the Sportsground, and despite reports the Galway FA’s Eamonn Deacy Park could be the next home for Connacht Rugby, Lam refused to be drawn on the issue.

“That’s nothing to do with me, it’s to do with (Connacht chief executive) Willie Ruane and he’s said before that they’re looking at all options and when there’s something that’s finalised they’ll let us know.

“The thing that I am pleased about is that we are playing here at the Sportsground in our first game and ready to go. I am glad it’s nothing to do with me. This where we are at the moment, and that’s all I am worried about.

“I would love to play in the Aviva every week, that would be fantastic. I don’t control that and all I know is that we play here,” he said.