Dave Kilcoyne still weeks away from Munster return, Johann van Graan reveals

Kilcoyne, 31, now faces a battle to be fit for next month’s Autumn Nations Cup

Head coach Johann van Graan with Dave Kilcoyne at Munster training ahead of the Leinster match where the prop suffered an injury. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Munster and Ireland prop Dave Kilcoyne is still weeks away from a return to rugby, Johann van Graan has revealed.

The loosehead injured an ankle just seven minutes into Munster’s restart game against Leinster in last season’s Guinness PRO14 interpro on August 22. Kilcoyne’s injury deprived head coach van Graan of one of his leading ball carriers. His season-long good form had augured well for his continuing Ireland prospects having been Cian Healy’s understudy at the World Cup and into the 2020 Six Nations before Covid-19 put the championship on hiatus until last weekend.