Hugo Keenan not lacking for perspective as he targets return from injury

Hugo Keenan during Leinster Rugby squad training at UCD in Dublin. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Hugo Keenan may have missed his deadline to make it back in time for the Christmas interpros and Champions Cup rounds three and four, but the Ireland full-back still realises how lucky he is to be playing the game he loves.

The Dubliner was a constant presence in the Leinster and Ireland No.15 shirt for a number of years as he seemed to live a charmed life in a game where the physicality eventually tends to take a toll on its professionals.

That changed in November of 2024 when he suffered a wrist injury playing for Ireland and had to sit out six weeks. And he is currently in the last stages of recovery having undergone hip surgery in the wake of his summer with the British and Irish Lions.

Over five months on the sidelines offer plenty of time for reflection.

Keenan has moved into a new house, done some studies, built up some work experience away from rugby all while clocking in for long hours of rehab at Leinster’s team base in UCD. Its has, he admitted, been frustrating but there is perspective in all this, too.

Hugo Keenan is an ambassador for Inishella

“Any rugby player is going to pick up little injury stints here and there. I was quite lucky in one way, at the start of my Irish career. I got a good run of it, a clean bill of health. I came back after that covid period pretty well-conditioned and that stood to me over the course of the next two or three years, didn't it?

“Now it hasn't all been plain sailing. I remember back in 2018, I was in my third year academy. I broke my finger. I was out for seven weeks. Then I broke my collarbone playing against Connacht for another seven or eight weeks. Then I had ankle surgery after the sevens in Hong Kong, and then an MCL in the Olympic qualifier.

“So sometimes it just comes in a little bit of a phase, or whatever. And when it rains, it pours. I went from my wrist injury, having broken that in that Australia game in the autumn series last year into this hip. There's been a little bit but, no, I'm fortunate that my body's been holding up pretty well.” 

Keenan knows plenty of people who didn’t return to the pro game after injuries. It is an unfortunate fact of life in rugby and he doesn’t need reminding of it given some of those who have had to retire have been close friends.

Keenan celebrates a try during the Lions Tour. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

“I was with them over the weekend, Conor O'Brien and even Rowan Osborne. Two lads I came up in the system with who both had to retire through injury. My thoughts go out to the likes of Dan Leavy and stuff. So it gives you a bit of perspective that it's only five months. It's still a big season to come, still plenty of rugby to be played for.

“And I got to do it on my terms as well, which was also a good way to do it. choosing a time to take a bit of time and get the body right for the next couple of years down the pipeline and make sure I'm in good stead to have another couple of years and kick on from this point. Use it as a positive really.” 

The 29-year old is not available for Leinster’s URC visit to Connacht’s Dexcom Stadium this weekend but he hasn’t given up on his aim of “playing in January” just yet. Leinster end the month with an away game against Glasgow.

Named on Wednesday in Andy Farrell’s Ireland Six Nations squad, he is more likely to fly out to Portugal with the national team on Sunday as they ramp up preparations for their tournament opener away to France on February 5th.

So, is the Stade de France a possibility?

“I'm not fully 100% back just yet, So if all goes well, maybe we'll see.” 

Hugo Keenan is an ambassador for Inishella, BWG Foods’ quality Bord Bia approved range of fresh, high-protein, low fat Irish meats. Inishella products are available in BWG’s nationwide network of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores.