Hugo Keenan targets January return following surgery on hip injury

Leinster's Hugo Keenan. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Hugo Keenan hopes to make his return to action in January following surgery on a hip injury which had been ongoing since the 2024 Six Nations.

The Leinster and Ireland fullback went under the knife during the summer after he starred for the Lions in Australia. It was, some informed him, the best time for it.

“It’s been a bit slower than I was maybe first hoping when we decided to get the surgery,” Keenan said at the launch of the Champions Cup.

“But it's just important to get it right and take the time and do it properly if you're taking a bit of time out to fix a niggle.

“It's about three months down, but back running. I suppose when you're back running there's light at the end of the tunnel. It's a bit more enjoyable, the rehab.

“It's better than being in the pool or on the bike and it feels like you're getting closer to rugby that way. That's been positive and looking like a bit of a January return. Not sure exactly, don't have a game or anything like that, but that's the target and I'm on track for that.” 

The problem stemmed from an injury sustained during last year’s Six Nations against England.

“It has been at me since then and it's been  a busy period going from the end of that season, finals, into the Olympics, back into the 24-25 season with always the goal of getting to the Lions,” said Keenan.

“It’s not like a gradual worse thing, but you're just taking more impacts. Then eventually you just have to chat to physios, docs; got unbelievable  medical advice from Ireland, the surgeons, from players who have had similar things as to what's the best way for longevity of a career.” 

Keenan’s likely availability for the Six Nations will be good news for Ireland with other fullback options Mack Hansen and Jamie Osborne both having recently suffered injuries.

“If there's ever a good time to get an injury, so people have said after the Lions tour isn't a bad time,” he said. “You'll be probably rested for two months anyway.

“Taking it with a pinch of salt, a bit of perspective that it could have happened, it could have been a much worse injury. Lads have gotten much worse ones in the middle of a season. Hopefully I'll be back with six, seven months to play for.

“That was  what I was telling myself and I have to look at the longer term. It's tough at the moment, tough not being involved with Ireland and even the Munster match with Leinster, games like that when you want to be playing. Same with European Cup games coming up in December as well.

“You always want to be playing in these big games. It's tough to watch, but it's part and parcel really and part of the plan as well as just trusting the process.” 

Gleeson eyes New Year return

Munster back-rower Brian Gleeson is using his disappointment at missing out on Ireland involvement this month to drive his recovery ahead of a return in the New Year.

Munster's Brian Gleeson. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Gleeson, 21, underwent elbow surgery following a fracture he sustained in Munster’s bonus-point URC victory over Leinster at Croke Park on October 18, forcing him to forgo an invitation from Ireland boss Andy Farrell to train with the national squad in Chicago ahead of the November international opener against New Zealand.

Now he is targeting a comeback against Ulster in Belfast on January 2 and speaking in London on Wednesday at the Champions Cup media launch, Gleeson said: “I have my eyes on the Ulster game to try and get back for that, the week before the two-game block of the Champions Cup games.

“I got good news there on Tuesday, everything is looking good, everything’s still in place from the surgery and I should get back in about four or five weeks.” 

Gleeson acknowledged his confidence was boosted by the call from Farrell but added: “I was on the radar because I was playing so now that I’m not playing, I’ve used it as a motivation for my recovery, that I have to play in January to try and get back and try make the Six Nations squad.

“That’s been a real driver for everything I’ve been doing so far… but I can only take care of what I do on the pitch and I’m not thinking about selection when I’m playing. It’s just trying to play as well as I can.”