Conway’s return boosts Reds as Healy calls it quits

MUNSTER have received a major boost ahead of Saturday’s European clash against Toulouse with Andrew Conway returning to training this week.

The Ireland wing has been out of action since he injured his knee while on Six Nations duty in March but is now fit and available ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final meeting with Toulouse at Aviva Stadium.

The province will be without young flanker John Hodnett, however.

The Corkman suffered a knee injury against Ulster two weeks ago and is set for another spell out of the game. Hodnett joins an extensive injury list, which includes Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Beirne, Gavin Coombes, RG Snyman and Jack O’Sullivan.

Meanwhile, Connacht wing Matt Healy has confirmed he will retire at the end of the current season.

The Dublin native was signed by Connacht in 2012, after impressing on the AIL beat with Lansdowne, and quickly became a central figure at the province. Healy played a key role in Connacht’s historic PRO12-winning season of 2012.

The 33-year-old will hang up his boots as Connacht’s record try-scorer, crossing 58 times in 151 appearances in the green jersey. Healy was capped for his country on one occasion, with an appearance from the bench against the Springboks in the summer of 2016.

‘It has been a privilege to call myself a professional rugby player for the past 10 years, but now is the time to go,’ said Healy.

‘It was a different time when I arrived in Galway back in 2012 and I never dreamed of what Connacht Rugby could achieve. I am immensely proud of the part I have played in giving them a progressive club of which they can be proud.’