Leinster forward Max Deegan 'feeling good' on comeback trail

What Leinster back rows don't know about rehab probably isn't worth knowing.

Of all the positions on the rugby field, it seems to be the most attritional and the four-time Heineken Champions Cup winners have had their fair share of casualties.

The rugby life of a flanker or number 8 comes with its inherent share of time on the sideline.

Former players like Sean O’Brien, Kevin McLaughlin and Jordi Murphy all had their troubles.

Dan Leavy and Will Connors were approaching Ireland shoe-in status before knee injuries set them back and current starters Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan are no strangers to the rehab room.

While concussion ended former captain McLaughlin’s career, and O'Brien was plagued by a hip issue in latter years, the knee is a common problem area.

Max Deegan was another who fell victim to the dreaded ACL tear.

The 25-year-old injured his knee against the Dragons in October 2020, just eight months after winning his only Ireland cap to date, against Wales in that season’s Six Nations.

"God, that seems like too long ago," he says when reminded of his last chat with this reporter.

It must have felt like an age for the former St Michael’s College student, who returned for a first competitive fixture against the Bulls at the end of September in the Aviva.

That was the start of a run of ten games for the province, across both URC and Heineken Champions Cup ties.

He’s been slowly building back up and his appearance against Edinburgh last weekend was just his second start and his first 80-minute game since his injury.

"It was an unbelievably long year and a lot of work went into it with myself and the staff and the physios and doctors but it’s unbelievable to be back now," he told RTÉ Sport ahead of this