Josh vows to be ‘back better’ after injury ends his season

Slí Cualann shine!

THE knee injury that forced Wicklow’s Josh van der Flier off in the first half of Ireland’s win over France has ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Van der Flier was picked at openside by Joe Schmidt in Ireland’s opening NatWest Six Nations game in Paris and acquitted himself well before hobbling off in the 36th minute.

Initial assessments suggested that van der Flier might only miss this weekend’s clash against Italy but Irish Rugby confirmed on Monday that the ligament damage was enough to keep the Wicklow man out of action for the season.

He will miss the rest of a promising Six Nations campaign and Leinster’s run in the Champions Cup and Top 14, two competitions the Province aim to win.

On Twitter on Monday, the former Wicklow RFC player said: ‘A special game to be involved in but obviously gutted to be missing the rest of the season. Thanks for all the kind messages, I’ll be back better’.

Injury has blighted the talented 24-year-old’s career, since making his international debut in the 2016 Six Nations, van der Flier missed that year’s tour to South Africa with ankle surgery while he missed last year’s Six Nations with a shoulder injury.

Fellow Wicklow man Jack Conan may benefit from van der Flier’s absence by replacing him in Ireland’s match day 23 against Italy.

The Slí Cualann team of Aoife Conroy, Rosa Kirwan, Richael Browne, Ara Freeman, Alannah O’Carroll, Alana Ryan, and Katie Lawless after finishing second in the women’s competition at the Irish Life Health National Indoor League finals at the National...

Josh van der Flier leaves the field in Paris last weekend.