Positive news on Leamy injury

THE ankle injury that forced Denis Leamy out of Ireland’s game against Fiji on Saturday is not as serious as at first feared and, at this stage, he has not been ruled out of consideration for Saturday’s clash with world champions South Africa at Croke Park.

This will come as welcome news to the player himself as he has been desperately unfortunate with injuries that have disrupted his progress at crucial stages of his career.

From time to time he has been struck down with serious damage to his knee, shoulder and hamstring and in the circumstances it is a tribute to his fortitude that he still brought his tally of caps on Saturday to 43.