Dowling Ruled Out For Eight Weeks

Ian Dowling’s chances of making his Ireland debut during the 2009 RBS 6 Nations were dashed when he suffered a hamstring tear in training. The injury will sideline him for at least eight weeks, meaning the winger is also in danger of missing Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with the Ospreys.

With his international chances now parked, Ian Dowling will have to remain hopeful that he can bounce back from this particularly setback and prove his fitness for Munster’s European showdown with the Ospreys on April 12.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Ireland team announcement, head coach Declan Kidney, Dowling’s former provincial boss, confirmed that the Kilkenny man is facing a lay-off of ‘a minimum eight weeks.’

“Unfortunately the word we’ve been given is that we won’t be able to include Ian in our plans any time during the Six Nations,” Kidney explained.

“He’ll be treated at home. There are excellent medics in all the provinces and he’ll get regular care and it’s the consistency of that care that will bring him through rather than changing physios or medics in between (if he stayed with us in camp).”

Dowling had been named in the Ireland ‘A’ squad for Friday’s encounter with England Saxons at Donnybrook but cried off along with injured hooker Bernard Jackman.