Madigan Argentina bound as Jackson ruled out

Ian Madigan’s topsy turvy season took a turn for the better yesterday with Paddy Jackson’s fitness problems earning the Leinster player a belated ticket to Argentina next month.

Jackson was awarded the back-up out-half berth when Joe Schmidt named his initial squad, with Madigan diverted into the Emerging Ireland ranks for that side’s duties in Romania.

However, Jackson has succumbed to a long-term stress fracture in his lower back, which will require rest and recuperation if he is to be fit for Ulster at the start of next season, allowing Madigan to be named as his replacement. Madigan has fallen behind Jimmy Gopperth in the race to be Leinster’s main man at 10 and his omission from the Ireland touring party was one that even someone like Fergus McFadden, a friend and team-mate, could understand at the time.