Dan Sheehan’s explosive Six Nations return fueled by training with Olympic boxer

Dan Sheehan credits boxing training for his explosive Six Nations return, following a six-month ACL injury recovery

DAN THE MAN: Dan Sheehan made an explosive return to Test rugby. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

It would have been difficult to miss Dan Sheehan’s explosive return to Test rugby as the Ireland hooker delivered a try-scoring, barnstorming impact off the bench to secure an opening-round Guinness Six Nations victory over England.

Sheehan’s energy and physicality around the Aviva Stadium pitch last Saturday, seven days after a two-try comeback from a six-month injury lay-off starting for Leinster, shattered the perception of a softly, softly approach that might have followed the ACL knee injury he sustained in South Africa last July in the first Test against the Springboks.