Tadhg Furlong to miss Leinster's PRO14 opener with calf injury

Tadhg Furlong will miss out again as Leinster kick off their new PRO14 campaign against Dragons at the RDS on Friday night (8.15pm).

The Irish tighthead was missed in the Blues' Champions Cup quarter-final loss to Saracens nine days ago and hasn't featured since rugby's return due to a back injury.

Although that issue has now cleared up, Leinster have revealed that Furlong sustained a minor calf injury in the build-up to the Sarries game and is facing several more weeks on the sidelines.

Dan Leavy's long-awaited return is also on hold this week.

It had been hoped that the flanker would get his first playing involvement in 18 months in Leinster A's loss to their Ulster counterparts last weekend, but the province say that his 'training load' is being managed this week.

Better news for Leo Cullen is that Robbie Henshaw has successfully come through his return to play protocols following his removal for a HIA against Saracens and is available.

Dan Sheehan (cheekbone), Vakh Abdaladze (back), Dave Kearney (hamstring), Conor O’Brien (hamstring) and Adam Byrne (hamstring) remain sidelined.