Leinster Rugby has been dealt a major blow ahead of their final United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Bulls on Saturday, as Rhys Ruddock has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. The 31-year-old flanker suffered the injury during training earlier this week, which means he will be unavailable for selection for the crucial URC encounter. This news is a big setback for Leinster, who will be hoping to secure a victory against the South African team to secure their place in the competition’s finale. Let’s take a closer look at what Ruddock’s absence means for the Irish province as they prepare for the biggest game of their season.
Leinster’s Rhys Ruddock has been ruled out of the team’s final regular season game in this year’s United Rugby Championship. Leinster will face Vodacom Bulls on 22 April, and Ruddock’s absence is due to a hamstring injury. Vakhtang Abdaladze is also doubtful for the game against the Bulls due to a neck injury. Further evaluation will be conducted that will eventually determine whether Abdaladze will be able to make an appearance. On a positive note, Tommy O’Brien returned unharmed from the squad’s most recent game against the Lions, after a lengthy absence due to a knee injury. There is no update on Ryan Baird (shoulder), James Lowe (calf), Josh van der Flier (ankle), Johnny Sexton (groin), Jamie Osborne (knee), Rónan Kelleher (shoulder), Joe McCarthy (ankle), Cormac Foley (hamstring), Martin Moloney (knee) and Charlie Ngatai (hamstring). Leinster is undefeated in the URC after 17 rounds, and is preparing for its upcoming Champions Cup semi-final game against Toulouse on April 29th.
Ultimately, the absence of Rhys Ruddock will be a big blow to Leinster’s hopes of securing victory against the Bulls in their final URC clash. Despite a valiant team effort, the absence of their influential captain may prove too much to overcome against a tough South African side. However, Leinster have shown time and time again that they are a resilient team, and they will need to call on that resiliency to mount a strong challenge without Ruddock. Regardless of the final outcome, it has been a remarkable campaign for Leinster in the URC, and they will undoubtedly continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
