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Ruddock's broken arm deepens Leinster injury crisis
ESPN Staff
December 15, 2014
Leinster's Rhys Ruddock will miss a month with a broken arm © Getty Images
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Leinster's injury crisis has been worsened with the confirmation that flanker Rhys Ruddock will miss at least a month with a broken arm picked up against Harlequins on Saturday.

Ruddock was forced off mid-way through the second half at the Aviva Stadium and emerged on the sidelines wearing a sling. Ruddock has enjoyed a breakthrough season, impressing for Ireland during the autumn internationals.

Manager Guy Easterby confirmed the break on Monday and appeared relieved that Ruddock was the only casualty of the clash.

"The only one (injury) that was significant was Rhys Ruddock," Easterby said. "He's broken his arm and will be out for 4-6 weeks.

"Last year we had a really good year where we didn't pick up as many injuries as we had this year, that is just the way it goes sometimes. Absolutely it is frustrating - frustrating for the players, frustrating for the coaches. It is a really difficult time for players when they are in that phase."

Despite revealing that Shane Jennings should return from injury this weekend, Easterby also revealed that Leinster will be taking immense care with the final stages of Sean O'Brien's recovery from his long-standing injury problems. O'Brien took part in training on Monday and was seen jogging round the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

"It is probably too difficult to tell at this stage," Easterby said. "His (O'Brien) recovery is going well but the significant injury that he had, it is not something we are going to rush because it is something we want to get right. If that means we are very conservative with it then that makes sense because we have to look at the long-term picture with Sean."

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