O’Brien set for long lay-off

Sean O’Brien is facing an uphill battle to return to action this season and it remains to be seen if he has, in fact, played his last game for Leinster with claims that he is to travel to France to discuss possible contracts.

The flanker underwent surgery last week on the shoulder injury sustained against Ulster in December and the rehab process has been extended by a month after surgeons had to perform open surgery as opposed to an arthroscopic procedure.

The Six Nations was always beyond him but Leinster coach Matt O’Connor admitted yesterday he is highly unlikely to make the early knockout stages of Europe either with talk of the recovery period being around the “four-to-five-month mark”.