NEW ZEALAND icon Jordie Barrett has completed his up first full training session with his new Leinster team-mates ahead of their Champions Cup opener vs Bristol on Sunday.
The 27-year-old has joined Leinster on a short-term deal after the Autumn Nations Series ended last weekend.
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Jordie Barrett during a Leinster rugby squad training session at UCD in Dublin on Tuesday afternoon
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Jordie Barrett is in contention for a start against Bristol in the Champions Cup on Sunday
The utility back will stay at the province for the remainder of the season.
And he completed his first full session with his new team-mates this afternoon at their UCD base after joining up with the province last Friday for the away win over Ulster in Belfast.
That was due to a niggling knee injury the centre has been struggling with for the past few months, which was further aggravated during New Zealand’s Nations Series clash against France two weeks ago.
But forwards coach Robin McBryde did admit that the All Black ace may feature in this weekend’s European opener.
McBryde told RTÉ Sport: “He hasn’t undergone all the protocols but it is one day at a time and we’ll just monitor how he progresses with a bit more intensity,”
“But he is looking good anyway. I’m sure he is a second row, looking at the size of him. He’s good.
“He knows a couple of people from previously with his New Zealand connection and Brian Colclough our analyst, they both went to the Irish game on Saturday, so he is getting plenty of welcome here.”
Barrett helped the team out before the clash but didn’t feature in the game at Kingspan Stadium.
The utility back recently signed a new contract extension with the New Zealand Rugby Union, having played 100 times with the Hurricanes.
In doing so, he has exercised an option to play overseas.
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It remains to be seen how Cullen deploys Barrett, who can play at centre and at fullback.
Meanwhile, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie Osborne and Will Connors have been ruled out of the Round 1 match against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate Stadium this Sunday.
Wexford prop Furlong has been dealing with a long-standing hamstring issue and hasn’t played since October.
Will Connors picked up a hamstring injury in the win over Ulster and while Jamie Osborne is still of after getting hurt during the Autumn Nations Series.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Leo Cullen’s side as Ryan Baird has come through Play Protocols, and is available for selection after sustaining a concussion on Ireland duty.
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2024-12-04 02:09:12
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