D’Arcy’s Departure Delayed

Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy will join up with the Ireland squad in a couple of days’ time, having picked up a calf strain at a recovery session this morning.

Gordon D’Arcy’s departure to New Zealand has been delayed by 48 hours. The Ireland centre picked up a calf strain at a recovery session this morning prior to the Ireland squad’s flight out of Dublin.

The injury was scanned and to minimise the possibility of any swelling on the flight, it has been decided that it is more prudent to allow the calf time to recover before D’Arcy joins up with the Ireland squad in Queenstown.

Team manager Paul McNaughton said: “On medical advice we are not going to bring Gordon out on this flight and delay it by about 48 hours.

“Gordon is not ruled out of anything yet – it is a slight calf strain and we will re-scan it before he flies out

“Jamie Heaslip had a concussion but he is fine and should be ready to go. There’s no other issue of concern to us.”

The squad, management and team officials will fly out of Dublin Airport at 5pm Irish time. They will arrive at their base in Queenstown on Thursday afternoon.