Irish trio boost Leinster cause

Leinster could be set for the perfect new year tonic after head coach Joe Schmidt revealed Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald could all return to action on January 4.

The injured Ireland and Lions backs have all been sorely missed from their province’s bid for a third Heineken Cup title in a row this season, which has been hit by back-to-back defeats to ASM Clermont Auvergne in rounds three and four earlier this month.

News of the trio’s imminent comeback from injury, as well as that of Isa Nacewa (arm) and Richardt Strauss (knee) from lesser knocks, against Edinburgh in the RaboDirect Pro12 on January 4 will give new hope to a faltering European qualification campaign from Pool 5, which resumes the following week at home to Scarlets.