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Ross Byrne boost for Leinster while Garry Ringrose given more time ahead of La Rochelle clash

Garry Ringrose pictured at training on Monday afternoon
Garry Ringrose pictured at training on Monday afternoon

Leinster are set to have Ross Byrne available for Saturday's Investec Champions Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle, while Garry Ringrose will be given more time to prove his fitness.

Out-half Byrne came off after 67 minutes of the team’s last-16 victory over Leicester on Saturday evening and appeared to have hurt his shoulder.

However, the Ireland international’s name did not appear on the province’s injury update issued on Monday afternoon.

Prop Cian Healy (below), who came on as a replacement against the Tigers before limping off near the end, will be assessed for a leg injury, while centre Ringrose is still rehabbing a shoulder injury that kept him out of action for the last two weeks.

He will be further assessed this week before Leo Cullen makes a decision on his availability.

Scrum-half Luke McGrath has completed the return-to-play protocols after a head injury suffered against the Bulls at the end of March and will take full part in training this week.

Robbie Henshaw (head), Hugo Keenan (hip), Ciarán Frawley (foot) and Andrew Porter (shoulder) all came through the 36-22 victory over Leicester with no issues.

Backs Charlie Ngatai (calf) and Jimmy O’Brien (neck) are also to be further assessed this week as they near returns.

On Ringrose, Ngatai and O'Brien, senior coach Jacques Nienaber told RTÉ Sport: "They started training with us today. They've done a lot of running and training on their own.

"This was their first run in a proper team session.

"For them it’s getting used to the intensity and getting back to it again. For the coaches, it’s about looking at their form and performances in the training session."

There were no further updates on James Ryan (arm), Tommy O’Brien (hamstring) and Alex Soroka (foot).

Meanwhile, former Leinster forward Jamie Heaslip says "it’s now or never" for the province as they aim to win a first Champions Cup since 2018.

To do so they must overcome two-time champions La Rochelle, who beat Leinster in the last two finals, at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm).

Heaslip said: "It’s now or never for this group, for Leo and his team, because there has been a bit of a drought of trophies, particularly European trophies, given the success of the national side and so many players from Leinster play for that side.

"They need to deliver and they’ve a great opportunity to get one step closer."

Watch Leinster v La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals on Saturday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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