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Keenan ruled out of Leinster's South Africa trip

Hugo Keenan (2l) missed Leinster's win over La Rochelle
Hugo Keenan (2l) missed Leinster's win over La Rochelle

Hugo Keenan will miss out on Leinster's trip to South Africa through injury, the province have confirmed.

Leo Cullen’s squad leave on Tuesday for a double-header of BKT URC games against the Lions and the Stormers.

Ireland full-back Keenan was named to start in Saturday’s Champions Cup win over La Rochelle but was replaced by Ciarán Frawley before kick-off.

"Hugo has been managing a hip injury the last few weeks which had a minor flare up in the captain’s run last week," said the club.

Leinster, who will face Northampton in the Champions Cup semi-final next month, will also likely be without out-half Ross Byrne, man of the match in that game.

He was withdrawn on 61 minutes with a "minor leg injury".

Along with Jimmy O’Brien (neck), Charles Ngatai (calf) and Garry Ringrose (shoulder), Byrne will be further assessed this week.

Andrew Goodman at Leinster training on Monday

"He's been training really well the last couple of weeks," Leinster assistant Andrew Goodman told RTÉ Sport about centre Ringrose, who has played just one game, for Ireland against Scotland as a replacement, since January.

"He’s progressing through different levels of contact. We hope in the next two or three weeks he’ll become available."

Luke McGrath, meanwhile, came through the game at the weekend with no issues after his return from the graduated return-to-play protocols

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

Goodman also revealed that Ryan, who needed surgery on an arm injury suffered during Ireland training in the Six Nations, is also on the mend.

"[James will] be back before the end of the season," said the New Zealander.

"He's progressing well. He hasn’t returned to contact yet. He’s still a couple of weeks away but he’s making good progress and we hope to see him back soon."

Goodman said a number of players will get their chance over the coming weeks.

"We've got a mixture of guys that played at the weekend and guys that haven’t had an opportunity to play the last couple of weekends for the trip to South Africa," he added.

Leinster knocked La Rochelle out of the tournament on Saturday

Meanwhile, Goodman said there was still a good buzz around the camp after their first knock-out win in four attempts over La Rochelle.

"Happiness, there was good vibes after the game," he said.

"The boys have been part of heartbreak against La Rochelle. On top of that it was a quarter-final of Champions Cup and that gives us another chance to get into the big dance so we are one step closer to that.

Goodman with daughter Zoe after the game

"There were some things in that game we looked at around physicality, both sides of the ball.

"We got to a level where we need to keep growing and to keep progressing in this competition.

"It was a nice feeling, it was a happy shed and it was a good beer shed together, which is always nice."

Watch a URC double-header, Emirates Lions v Leinster and Vodacom Bulls v Munster, on Saturday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

Watch Italy v Scotland in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday from 4.35pm on RTÉ Player

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