Irish Rugby
O'Driscoll nears return from injury
ESPN Staff
December 18, 2012
Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll runs through a drill, Ireland training session, Queenstown, New Zealand, June 20, 2012
Brian O'Driscoll should be fit for the 2013 Six Nations © Getty Images
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Ireland have received a boost ahead of the 2013 Six Nations with the news that skipper Brian O'Driscoll is back in training with his province Leinster.

The 33-year-old sat out the autumn internationals due to a ankle injury sustained against the Blues back in October but he now has his sights set on playing against Wales in Ireland's Six Nations opener on February 2. And O'Driscoll is set to be joined back on the training paddock by two of his fellow Ireland team-mates.

Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald both missed the autumn Tests due to injury with fullback Kearney struggling with a back injury and Fitzgerald out for much of the year with a neck problem.

"Brian is out there for his first onfield session and Rob Kearney is due out on the pitch next week," Schmidt told the Irish Independent. "Luke is back on the pitch a while and we're looking at either the home game against Connacht at the RDS on December 29 or for the Edinburgh match away at Murrayfield the following week."

The trio's availability for the Six Nations would be a huge boost to national team coach Declan Kidney, particularly with wing Tommy Bowe likely to be out following the injury he suffered against Northampton on Saturday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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