Connacht’s worst fears have been realised with experienced loosehead Denis Buckley ruled out until 2022 following confirmation that the knee injury picked up last weekend in Italy is an anterior cruciate ligament. Buckley’s injury has been diagnosed as an ACL which has a recovery time after surgery of around nine months and it now looks like it will be springtime 2022 before the Roscommon native is back in action. It’s a cruel turn of events for the 30-year who suffered the injury less than a minute into his 200th appearance for Connacht against Benetton at Stadio Monigo last weekend. The injury also rules out any hope that the former Irish U20 prop might finally make his senior bow when Andy Farrell assembles the squad for the summer clashes against the USA and Japan. Meanwhile, No 8 Abraham Papali’i has escaped with a four-match ban following his third red card in 14 games since he arrived last summer.

Source: Irish Examiner June 04, 2021 13:18 UTC