Joy of Six for Kieran and Irish
KIERAN MARMION is set to give Joe Schmidt some badly needed good news on the scrum-half front after confirming he is on course for a Six Nations return.
However, it remains to be seen if he will be fit for the opening clash against England and might not be back until Ireland travel to Scotland a week later.
The weekend injuries to Luke Mcgrath and John Cooney has created a headache for Schmidt as he plots the defence of the Grand Slam, but Marmion is on course to return.
“Everything is looking to plan,” revealed Marmion, 26, yesterday. “I just started back running again now a week or so ago. Everything seems to be going fine. Hopefully the next few weeks and I will be able to get back out and play.”
He won his 24th cap in the November win over New Zealand and underwent surgery a few days later on a troublesome ankle injury.
“It was just a ligament injury I had for a few weeks, and I just needed to get it sorted in the long-term. We got that done as quickly as possible after the New Zealand game.”
Marmion said that his first task will be to get back into the Connacht side where Caolin Blade, who could be catapulted into the Irish scene if the scrum-half injury problem deepens, has been superb this season.
“He has been going really well,” added Marmion. “I have a good battle there to get back in the team, but that’s good competition and it will drive me on.
“The thing I am aiming for is just to get back and get some game time under my belt, especially with Connacht,” said the scrum half. ULSTER head coach Dan Mcfarland has hit out at alleged racist abuse to
Racing 92 winger Simon Zebo during Saturday’s European clash in Belfast. Zebo suggested on Twitter that he was subjected to unsavoury comments from fans at the Kingspan Stadium during Ulster’s 26-22 Champions Cup win. A Racing 92 statement last night confirmed the nature of the allegations towards the 35-times capped Irish star (left).
“Racing 92 strongly condemns the racist insults that Simon Zebo was targetted with on Saturday at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast,” reads the statement.
“Racism has no place in rugby, in which the values of solidarity and togetherness are the exact opposite of any forms of discrimination.
“Racing, however, does not wish to stigmatise Ulster Rugby as a whole. The insults suffered by Simon Zebo are the actions of only one or two individuals and have been condemned by many Ulster fans who have shown their support for Simon.”
Earlier in the day, Mcfarland said: “If that did happen, it is totally unacceptable.
“This is a club where inclusivity plays a huge part. I know as an organisation that is totally the position we take. If anybody out there knows what happened, we want to know because nobody should have to put up with that.”
Ulster Rugby has said it will work with all relevant parties to “robustly investigate any complaints received.”