Connacht hope Caolin Blade injury not as bad as feared

Connacht are hoping that the extent of the ankle injury Blade picked up in the loss to the Stormers at the weekend is not as serious as first feared

INJURY BLOW: Caolin Blade of Connacht is taken off the pitch to be treated for an injury during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Connacht at Stellenbosch in South Africa. Pic: Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile

Connacht forwards coach Dewald Senekal says it is particularly hard luck on scrum-half Caolin Blade that he is returning home injured from South Africa this week instead of joining up with the Emerging Ireland squad in Bloemfontein.

Connacht are hoping that the extent of the ankle injury picked up in the 38-15 loss to the Stormers at the weekend is not as serious as first feared, but it will not be established until he gets back to Galway.