6 Nations
2019/20 Season Fixtures & Results
2019/20 Season Fixtures.
Gallagher Premiership
Round 1
Fri 18 Oct Bristol 43-16 Bath
Sat 19 Oct Exeter 22-19 Harlequins
Sat 19 Oct Sale 16-18 Gloucester
Sat 19 Oct Saracens 25-27 Northampton
Sat 19 Oct Worcester 24-16 Leicester
Sun 20 Oct Wasps 26-29 London Irish
Round 2
Fri 25 Oct Bath 13-10 Exeter
Sat 26 Oct Northampton 35-16 Worcester
Sat 26 Oct Gloucester 25-9 Wasps
Sat 26 Oct Harlequins 22-17 Bristol
Sat 26 Oct London Irish 7-41 Sale
Sun 27 Oct Leicester 10-24 Saracens
Round 3
Fri 1 Nov Northampton v Harlequins (7.45pm, BT Sport)
Fri 1 Nov Bristol v Sale (7.45pm)
Sat 2 Nov Leicester v Gloucester (3pm, BT Sport)
Sat 2 Nov Saracens v London Irish (3pm)
Sat 2 Nov Wasps v Bath (3pm)
Sun 3 Nov Worcester v Exeter (3pm, BT Sport)
Round 4
Fri 8 Nov Sale v Wasps (7.45pm, BT Sport)
Sat 9 Nov Bath v Northampton (3pm)
Sat 9 Nov Gloucester v Saracens (3pm, BT Sport)
Sat 9 Nov Harlequins v Worcester (3pm)
Sun 10 Nov London Irish v Leicester (2.30pm)
Sun 10 Nov Exeter v Bristol (3pm, BT Sport)
Round 5
Fri 29 Nov Bath v Saracens (7.45pm, BT Sport)
Sat 30 Nov Exeter v Wasps (3pm)
Sat 30 Nov Northampton v Leicester (3pm, BT Sport)
Sat 30 Nov Worcester v Sale (3pm)
Sun 1 Dec Bristol v London Irish (3pm)
Sun 1 Dec Harlequins v Gloucester (3pm, BT Sport)
Round 6
Fri 20 Dec Gloucester v Worcester (7.45pm, BT Sport)
Sat 21 Dec Leicester v Exeter (3pm, BT Sport)
Sat 21 Dec Sale v Northampton (3pm)
Sat 21 Dec Saracens v Bristol (3pm)
Sat 21 Dec Wasps v Harlequins (3pm)
Sun 22 Dec London Irish v Bath (3pm, BT Sport)
Round 7
Fri 27 Dec Bristol v Wasps (7.45pm, BT Sport)
Sat 28 Dec Northampton v Gloucester (2pm, BT Sport)
Sat 28 Dec Bath v Sale (3pm)
Sat 28 Dec Worcester v London Irish (3pm)
Sat 28 Dec Harlequins v Leicester (4.30pm, Twickenham Stadium, BT Sport)
Sun 29 Dec Exeter v Saracens (3pm, BT Sport)
Round 8
Fri 3 Jan Sale v Harlequins (7.45pm, BT Sport)
Sat 4 Jan Gloucester v Bath (3pm, BT Sport)
Sat 4 Jan Leicester v Bristol (3pm)
Sat 4 Jan Saracens v Worcester (3pm)
Sun 5 Jan London Irish v Exeter (2.30pm)
Sun 5 Jan Wasps v Northampton (3pm, BT Sport)
Round 9
24-26 Jan Bath v Leicester
24-26 Jan Bristol v Gloucester
24-26 Jan Exeter v Sale
24-26 Jan Harlequins v Saracens
24-26 Jan Northampton v London Irish
24-26 Jan Worcester v Wasps
Round 10
14-16 Feb Gloucester v Exeter
14-16 Feb Harlequins v London Irish
14-16 Feb Leicester v Wasps
14-16 Feb Northampton v Bristol
14-16 Feb Saracens v Sale
14-16 Feb Worcester v Bath
Round 11
21-23 Feb Bath v Harlequins
21-23 Feb Bristol v Worcester
21-23 Feb Exeter v Northampton
21-23 Feb London Irish v Gloucester
21-23 Feb Sale v Leicester
21-23 Feb Wasps v Saracens
Round 12
28 Feb-1 Mar Bath v Bristol
28 Feb-1 Mar Gloucester v Sale
28 Feb-1 Mar Harlequins v Exeter
28 Feb-1 Mar Leicester v Worcester
28 Feb-1 Mar London Irish v Wasps
28 Feb-1 Mar Northampton v Saracens
Round 13
6-8 Mar Bristol v Harlequins
6-8 Mar Exeter v Bath
6-8 Mar Sale v London Irish
6-8 Mar Saracens v Leicester
6-8 Mar Wasps v Gloucester
6-8 Mar Worcester v Northampton
Round 14
20-22 Mar Bath v London Irish
20-22 Mar Bristol v Saracens
20-22 Mar Exeter v Leicester
20-22 Mar Harlequins v Sale
20-22 Mar Northampton v Wasps
20-22 Mar Worcester v Gloucester
Round 15
27-29 Mar Gloucester v Bristol
27-29 Mar Leicester v Bath
27-29 Mar London Irish v Northampton
27-29 Mar Sale v Exeter
27-29 Mar Saracens v Harlequins (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
27-29 Mar Wasps v Worcester
Round 16
10-12 Apr Bristol v Exeter
10-12 Apr Leicester v London Irish
10-12 Apr Northampton v Bath
10-12 Apr Saracens v Gloucester
10-12 Apr Wasps v Sale
10-12 Apr Worcester v Harlequins
Round 17
17-19 Apr Bath v Wasps
17-19 Apr Exeter v Worcester
17-19 Apr Gloucester v Leicester
17-19 Apr Harlequins v Northampton
17-19 Apr London Irish v Saracens
17-19 Apr Sale v Bristol
Round 18
24-26 Apr Gloucester v London Irish
24-26 Apr Harlequins v Bath
24-26 Apr Leicester v Sale
24-26 Apr Northampton v Exeter
24-26 Apr Saracens v Wasps
24-26 Apr Worcester v Bristol
Round 19
8-10 May Bath v Worcester
8-10 May Bristol v Northampton
8-10 May Exeter v Gloucester
8-10 May London Irish v Harlequins
8-10 May Sale v Saracens
8-10 May Wasps v Leicester
Round 20
15-17 May Gloucester v Harlequins
15-17 May Leicester v Northampton
15-17 May London Irish v Worcester
15-17 May Sale v Bath
15-17 May Saracens v Exeter
15-17 May Wasps v Bristol
Round 21
29-31 May Bath v Gloucester
29-31 May Bristol v Leicester
29-31 May Exeter v London Irish
29-31 May Harlequins v Wasps
29-31 May Northampton v Sale
29-31 May Worcester v Saracens
Round 22
Sat 6 Jun Gloucester v Northampton
Sat 6 Jun Leicester v Harlequins
Sat 6 Jun London Irish v Bristol
Sat 6 Jun Sale v Worcester
Sat 6 Jun Saracens v Bath
Sat 6 Jun Wasps v Exeter
Semi-finals
12-13 June
Final
Sat 20 Jun (Twickenham Stadium)
Guinness PRO14
Round 1
Fri 27 Sep Cheetahs 48-14 Glasgow
Fri 27 Sep Ulster 38-14 Ospreys
Sat 28 Sep Munster 39-9 Dragons
Sat 28 Sep Southern Kings 27-31 Cardiff Blues
Sat 28 Sep Scarlets 18-10 Connacht
Sat 28 Sep Benetton 27-32 Leinster
Sat 28 Sep Edinburgh 50-15 Zebre
Round 2
Fri 4 Oct Glasgow 21-25 Scarlets
Fri 4 Oct Leinster 53-5 Ospreys
Sat 5 Oct Southern Kings 20-31 Munster
Sat 5 Oct Cardiff Blues 11-19 Edinburgh
Sat 5 Oct Zebre 28-52 Dragons
Sat 5 Oct Cheetahs 63-26 Ulster
Sat 5 Oct Connacht 41-5 Benetton
Round 3
Fri 11 Oct Dragons 14-38 Connacht
Fri 11 Oct Leinster 40-14 Edinburgh
Sat 12 Oct Scarlets 54-10 Zebre
Sat 12 Oct Southern Kings 17-42 Ulster
Sat 12 Oct Cheetahs 40-16 Munster
Sat 12 Oct Glasgow 17-13 Cardiff Blues
Sat 12 Oct Ospreys 24-20 Benetton
Round 4
Fri 25 Oct Munster v Ospreys (7.35pm)
Fri 25 Oct Ulster v Cardiff Blues (7.35pm)
Sat 26 Oct Dragons v Glasgow (3pm)
Sat 26 Oct Benetton v Southern Kings (4pm)
Sat 26 Oct Connacht v Cheetahs (5.15pm)
Sat 26 Oct Zebre v Leinster (6.15pm)
Sat 26 Oct Edinburgh v Scarlets (7.35pm)
Round 5
Fri 1 Nov Glasgow v Southern Kings (7.35pm)
Fri 1 Nov Leinster v Dragons (7.35pm)
Fri 1 Nov Ulster v Zebre (7.35pm)
Sat 2 Nov Scarlets v Cheetahs (3pm)
Sat 2 Nov Ospreys v Connacht (5.15pm)
Sat 2 Nov Benetton v Edinburgh (6.15pm)
Sat 2 Nov Cardiff Blues v Munster (7.35pm)
Round 6
Fri 8 Nov Connacht v Leinster (7.35pm)
Fri 8 Nov Edinburgh v Dragons (7.35pm)
Sat 9 Nov Ospreys v Southern Kings (3pm)
Sat 9 Nov Zebre v Glasgow (4pm)
Sat 9 Nov Cardiff Blues v Cheetahs (5.15pm)
Sat 9 Nov Munster v Ulster (5.15pm)
Sat 9 Nov Scarlets v Benetton (7.35pm)
Round 7
Fri 29 Nov Munster v Edinburgh (7.35pm)
Fri 29 Nov Ulster v Scarlets (7.35pm)
Sat 30 Nov Benetton v Cardiff Blues (4pm)
Sat 30 Nov Connacht v Southern Kings (5.15pm)
Sat 30 Nov Dragons v Zebre (5.15pm)
Sat 30 Nov Glasgow v Leinster (7.35pm)
Sat 30 Nov Ospreys v Cheetahs (7.35pm)
Round 8
Fri 20 Dec Leinster v Ulster (7.35pm)
Sat 21 Dec Zebre v Benetton (4pm)
Sat 21 Dec Connacht v Munster (5.15pm)
Sat 21 Dec Dragons v Scarlets (5.15pm)
Sat 21 Dec Glasgow v Edinburgh (5.45pm)
Sat 21 Dec Ospreys v Cardiff Blues (7.35pm)
Round 9
Thu 26 Dec Cardiff Blues v Dragons (3pm)
Thu 26 Dec Scarlets v Ospreys (5.15pm)
Fri 27 Dec Ulster v Connacht (7.35pm)
Sat 28 Dec Benetton v Zebre (2pm)
Sat 28 Dec Edinburgh v Glasgow (3pm)
Sat 28 Dec Munster v Leinster (6pm)
Round 10
Fri 3 Jan Cardiff Blues v Scarlets (7.35pm)
Fri 3 Jan Ulster v Munster (7.35pm)
Sat 4 Jan Benetton v Glasgow (2pm)
Sat 4 Jan Dragons v Ospreys (3pm)
Sat 4 Jan Zebre v Cheetahs (4pm)
Sat 4 Jan Leinster v Connacht (5.30pm)
Sat 4 Jan Edinburgh v Southern Kings (7.45pm)
Round 8
Sat 25 Jan Southern Kings v Cheetahs (kick-off tbc)
Round 9
Sat 1 Feb Cheetahs v Southern Kings (kick-off tbc)
Round 11
Fri 14 Feb Glasgow v Zebre (7.35pm)
Fri 14 Feb Munster v Southern Kings (7.35pm)
Sat 15 Feb Leinster v Cheetahs (2.30pm)
Sat 15 Feb Scarlets v Edinburgh (3pm)
Sat 15 Feb Ospreys v Ulster (5.15pm)
Sat 15 Feb Connacht v Cardiff Blues (7.35pm)
Sat 15 Feb Dragons v Benetton (7.35pm)
Round 12
Fri 21 Feb Edinburgh v Connacht (7.35pm)
Fri 21 Feb Ospreys v Leinster (7.35pm)
Fri 21 Feb Zebre v Munster (8.35pm)
Sat 22 Feb Glasgow v Dragons (7.35pm)
Sat 22 Feb Ulster v Cheetahs (7.35pm)
Sun 23 Feb Cardiff Blues v Benetton (5.15pm)
Sun 23 Feb Scarlets v Southern Kings (5.15pm)
Round 13
Fri 28 Feb Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues (7.35pm)
Fri 28 Feb Leinster v Glasgow (7.35pm)
Sat 29 Feb Zebre v Ospreys (2pm)
Sat 29 Feb Benetton v Ulster (4pm)
Sat 29 Feb Munster v Scarlets (5pm)
Sat 29 Feb Dragons v Cheetahs (5.15pm)
Sun 1 Mar Southern Kings v Connacht (3pm)
Round 14
Fri 20 Mar Connacht v Scarlets (7.35pm)
Fri 20 Mar Ulster v Dragons (7.35pm)
Sat 21 Mar Cardiff Blues v Zebre (3pm)
Sat 21 Mar Southern Kings v Edinburgh (3pm)
Sat 21 Mar Cheetahs v Leinster (5pm)
Sat 21 Mar Ospreys v Glasgow (5.15pm)
Sat 21 Mar Benetton v Munster (6.15pm)
Round 15
Fri 27 Mar Southern Kings v Leinster (7.15pm)
Fri 27 Mar Glasgow v Ulster (7.35pm)
Fri 27 Mar Munster v Benetton (7.35pm)
Sat 28 Mar Scarlets v Dragons (3pm)
Sat 28 Mar Cheetahs v Edinburgh (5pm)
Sat 28 Mar Cardiff Blues v Ospreys (5.15pm)
Sat 28 Mar Zebre v Connacht (6.15pm)
Round 16
Fri 10 Apr Connacht v Glasgow (7.35pm)
Fri 10 Apr Edinburgh v Benetton (7.35pm)
Sat 11 Apr Munster v Cardiff Blues (3pm)
Sat 11 Apr Southern Kings v Scarlets (4pm)
Sat 11 Apr Leinster v Zebre (5.15pm)
Sat 11 Apr Cheetahs v Ospreys (6.15pm)
Sat 11 Apr Dragons v Ulster (7.35pm)
Round 17
Fri 17 Apr Glasgow v Cheetahs (7.35pm)
Fri 17 Apr Benetton v Connacht (8.05pm)
Sat 18 Apr Ospreys v Dragons (3pm, Principality Stadium)
Sat 18 Apr Zebre v Southern Kings (4pm)
Sat 18 Apr Scarlets v Cardiff Blues (5.15pm, Principality Stadium)
Sat 18 Apr Leinster v Munster (5.30pm)
Sat 18 Apr Ulster v Edinburgh (7.45pm)
Round 18
Fri 24 Apr Benetton v Scarlets (7.05pm)
Fri 24 Apr Dragons v Leinster (7.35pm)
Fri 24 Apr Edinburgh v Ospreys (7.35pm)
Sat 25 Apr Cheetahs v Zebre (4pm)
Sat 25 Apr Munster v Glasgow (5.15pm)
Sat 25 Apr Cardiff Blues v Southern Kings (7.35pm)
Sat 25 Apr Connacht v Ulster (7.35pm)
Round 19
Fri 8 May Cardiff Blues v Connacht (7.35pm)
Fri 8 May Ulster v Glasgow (7.35pm)
Sat 9 May Cheetahs v Dragons (2pm)
Sat 9 May Cheetahs v Zebre (4pm)
Sat 9 May Ospreys v Zebre (5.15pm)
Sat 9 May Edinburgh v Munster (5.30pm)
Sat 9 May Scarlets v Leinster (7.45pm)
Round 20
Fri 15 May Glasgow v Ospreys (7.35pm)
Fri 15 May Leinster v Cardiff Blues (7.35pm)
Sat 16 May Southern Kings v Dragons (4pm)
Sat 16 May Zebre v Ulster (4pm)
Sat 16 May Scarlets v Munster (5.15pm)
Sat 16 May Cheetahs v Benetton (6.15pm)
Sat 16 May Connacht v Edinburgh (7.35pm)
Round 21
Fri 29 May Benetton v Zebre (kick-off tbc)
Fri 29 May Dragons v Cardiff Blues (kick-off tbc)
Fri 29 May Edinburgh v Glasgow (kick-off tbc)
Fri 29 May Southern Kings v Cheetahs (kick-off tbc)
Fri 29 May Munster v Connacht (kick-off tbc)
Fri 29 May Ospreys v Scarlets (kick-off tbc)
Fri 29 May Ulster v Leinster (kick-off tbc)
Play-offs and semi-finals
Dates to be confirmed.
Final
Sat 20 June, Cardiff City Stadium
Six Nations Fixtures 2020
Kick-off times are in GMT.
Round 1
Sat 1 February, Wales v Italy, Principality Stadium, BBC, 2.15pm
Sat 1 February, Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, ITV, 4.45pm
Sun 2 February, France v England, BBC, 3pm
Round 2
Sat 8 February, Ireland v Wales, Aviva Stadium, ITV, 2.15pm
Sat 8 February, Scotland v England, BT Murrayfield, BBC, 4.45pm
Sun 9 February, France v Italy, BBC, 3pm
Round 3
Sat 22 February, Italy v Scotland, ITV, 2.15pm
Sat 22 February, Wales v France, Principality Stadium, BBC, 4.45pm
Sun 23 February, England v Ireland, Twickenham, ITV, 3pm
Round 4
Sat 7 March, Ireland v Italy, Aviva Stadium, ITV, 2.15pm
Sat 7 March, England v Wales, Twickenham, ITV, 4.45pm
Sun 8 March, Scotland v France, BT Murrayfield, BBC, 3pm
Round 5
Sat 14 March, Wales v Scotland, Principality Stadium, BBC, 2.15pm
Sat 14 March, Italy v England, ITV, 4.45pm
Sat 14 March, France v Ireland, BBC, 8pm
6 Nations
Farrell Names Ireland Match Day Squad To Face Scotland In Dublin
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
6 Nations
Farrell Names Ireland Team To Face England At Twickenham
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
6 Nations
Keenan’s Injury Rehab ‘Progressing Well’ As Ireland Squad Link Back Up Together
Hugo Keenan was always confident that Ciaran Frawley would perform well against Wales last week, with the Skerries man marking his first start for Ireland by running in the hosts’ third try of the game.
Frawley deputised at full-back as Andy Farrell’s men made it three bonus point wins on the trot to extend their lead at the top of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations table to six points. Calcutta Cup winners Scotland are now their closest challengers.
It was a rare match for Keenan to miss, and such has been the ever-dependable Dubliner’s importance to the team during Andy Farrell’s reign, he has started 38 of their last 43 Tests. Only Jimmy O’Brien, Michael Lowry, and now Frawley, have stood in for him during that time.
Currently rehabbing the knee injury that he picked up against Italy, and with his sights set on returning against England on Saturday week, Keenan is hopeful of being available for selection for the trip to Twickenham.
“That’s the plan, hoping to get back for England. I was sad not to be out there at the weekend. Always tough watching from the stand, but rehab’s progressing well,” he said, speaking at an event to promote Energia’s #HalfAFan campaign.
“I’ve been worked hard. I’ve been in rehabbing the last day or two as well while the rest of the squad’s been off, so it’s always the annoying side of it, you don’t really get your days off.
“I’m happy with how it’s coming along, and progressing well. No (contact training), not fully quite there but we haven’t been in this week.
“We’re linking back up together tomorrow (Wednesday), we are going to be based in Energia (Park), then we’ve got the open training session (at the Aviva Stadium) on Thursday. Not too far off getting fully involved, so looking forward to being back.”
It is easy to forget that Keenan won four of his first six international caps on the wing, towards the tail end of 2020 and those uncertain Covid-19 times. Since then he has very much cemented himself as Ireland’s first choice full-back, and one of the best in the position worldwide.
Having been ever-present during last year’s Grand Slam-winning campaign and the Rugby World Cup, the 27-year-old is itching to get back to full fitness and ensure that it is only one game he has to sit out.
Commenting on the timeframe for his recovery, he explained: “I suppose the injury happened in the Italy game and four weeks from that would be the England game. I was trying to get back for the Wales match. It was just a week or two too early.
We sort of treated it – since we’ve known I’d be out – as a four-week injury. There was no point rushing me straight back into something I’m not ready for.
“So, I’m hoping to build up the load over the next 10 or so days leading up to it to get right for that one. You don’t enjoy the time on the sideline but hopefully it will be a case where I just miss one.
“It wouldn’t have been the worst timing because maybe sometimes a four-week injury in the middle of a Six Nations you miss three games rather than just one. Hopefully I’m getting lucky with that.”
Reflecting on how he sustained the injury, Keenan fell awkwardly in a 52nd-minute tackle from Italy replacement Giosuè Zilocchi. Just moments earlier, he had spearheaded a breathless attack from deep, breaking onto Craig Casey’s chip kick and bringing play close to the Italian 22.
“I saw him (Zilocchi) coming out of the corner of my eye, so I managed to get my legs off the ground, which meant a lot of the impact was taken, so it was nothing too serious.
“I tried to shake it off, but it probably wasn’t one I could have. We were in a comfortable position at that stage as well.
“You always are a small bit nervous, but we’ve got great doctors and great physios. They cleared my knee for a large part going into it (the scan), so I was pretty confident it was something pretty minor. I was reassured soon enough so it was all good.”
Frawley’s 80 minutes against Wales – ‘solid enough’ according to head coach Farrell – will certainly help to build more depth at full-back.
Jack Crowley got some game-time in the position against Italy, while of Ireland’s extended Six Nations squad, Jordan Larmour and Jacob Stockdale have also had international starts at full-back.
Mack Hansen (shoulder) and O’Brien (neck) will add to those back-field options on their return from injury later in the year. In the meantime, Keenan praised his Leinster colleague for his performance last Saturday, but would understandably rather be out there himself as Ireland’s last line of defence.
“I’ve been lucky enough that I haven’t been in that situation (sidelined for match week) too many times. I’ve had a good run of injuries.
“It’s something I don’t enjoy too much, I get nervous, I get worried. You can’t control anything when you’re on the side of the pitch, while when you’re in amongst it you’re distracted more, you’re just focused on the challenge in front of you.
“I thought Frawls went very well, didn’t he? It was great to see it. I don’t think anyone had any doubts about him, he’s an incredible footballer. We’ve all seen it for Leinster, and the small bits that he’s got a chance with a green jersey as well.
“He’s got a bit more time at 15, and I think there were probably a few question marks around who would play there with Jimmy and Mack out, but we were all very confident in him.
“It was great for him to get settled in early and get a try as well. I was delighted for him,” he added.
Energia ambassador Hugo Keenan was speaking as part of Energia’s #HalfAFan campaign. As proud partner of the Ireland Men’s and Women’s rugby teams, Energia understands that being a partner to both teams means showing support for both – so don’t just be #HalfAFan.
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