O’Gara fitness boost for Munster and Lions

GOOD news for Munster, and Clive Woodward, — Ronan O’Gara is close to full fitness after a serious knee injury and may return to Munster’s squad for the Celtic Cup semi-final against Leinster at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.

O’Gara, who sustained the injury in the Celtic League game at Newport on March 25, completed a full training session with his team-mates in Limerick yesterday.

“I am delighted with the progress Rog has made,” said coach Alan Gaffney. “His rehab has gone extremely well, although at this stage it is still too early to say if he will be involved on Sunday. He is very close to being right but we’ll wait till later in the week to decide whether or not to include him in the squad.”

O’Gara’s progress is also being relayed to Lions boss Clive Woodward ahead of their departure to New Zealand at the end of the month.

Marcus Horan is fit after taking a knock on his right wrist in the game against Edinburgh last Saturday but Brian Lima will not be part of the squad. Lima, brought into the squad in March, has returned to his native Samoa after sustaining a serious quadricep muscle injury which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

“Bringing Brian in when we did, was I believe, the right thing to do ” said Gaffney.” I think most clubs would have done the same in the circumstances. Unfortunately, he picked up that injury and that’s something you just cannot legislate for. I was disappointed and I know he was also because he was looking forward to fulfilling a role for us. But that’s the way it goes. He was back training but at this stage I don’t think I could have considered playing him, so I think it only fair that he be allowed home to his family.”

Meanwhile, Irish international Gavin Duffy is due to sit down with NEC Harlequins management tomorrow to decide if the full-back is to remain with the relegated Zurich Premiership side or move to Connacht.

“Everybody at the club is trying to come to terms with the reality of relegation,” said Duffy. “It was bitterly disappointing to go down. We needed a few breaks last week but just did not get them.

“But at this stage there is no point in complaining. We must now adjust to what has happened and deal with it. Management are sitting down with each player this week and decisions will be taken from there.”