LEINSTER COACH JACQUES Nienaber says the province do not know if Hugo Keenan will be available to play any role across the URC knockouts. Keenan will miss tomorrow’s URC clash with Connacht as the fullback returns to Sevens Rugby in Madrid, ahead of potentially representing Ireland in the Paris Olympics. Leinster have already secured a home quarter-final and hope to be involved in the semi-finals and final.
Having Keenan available for the run-in would be a major boost but Nienaber says his understanding is that the 27-year-old will not feature for the province again this season. “I am not 100% sure, that is Leo [Cullen],” Nienaber said. “They manage that.
That conversation they obviously had with David [Nucifora] regarding how it would work, and the Sevens, and that I am not privy to that. Last weekend’s Champions Cup final defeat to Toulouse means Leinster are facing the possibility of a third straight season without a trophy. Yet Nienaber says the province had no issues in releasing Keenan for Sevens duty – even if it damages their chances landing a URC title.
“I think it probable is up to the player as well if that’s your dream,” Nienaber said. “I mean South Africa are well known for letting players play Sevens and if you think in that way the squad that won the World Cup in – [Kurt-Lee] Arendse came from Sevens, Commonwealth gold. Cheslin Kolbe, Olympics bronze.
Kwagga Smith, Olympic bronze, so there’s a lot of players. “The Olympics is such a bi.