Fresh injury setback could delay Hugo Keenan's return

Hugo Keenan is facing a race against time to be fit for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Thursday week after suffering a fresh injury setback.

The Lions, Ireland and Leinster star injured his thumb during a pre-championship training session in Portugal, Ireland have confirmed.

The Dubliner has not played since starting and finishing all three Lions Tests during their 2-1 series win over Australia. An operation on a pre-existing hip injury was required, and the 29-year-old has been sidelined ever since.

Having returned to the Ireland setup in preparation for the championship, Keenan had hoped to add to his 46 Ireland caps by claiming the No.15 jersey for the eagerly-awaited curtain-raiser against Les Bleus.

But head coach Andy Farrell may now have to turn to either Jacob Stockdale, whose last Test start at full-back was over five years ago, or choose from Ciarán Frawley, Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast, who have all played in the position before.

Farrell will have less of a back-three selection headache if Jamie Osborne and Robert Baloucoune overcome knocks.

Osborne played full-back in the first two Tests in the Autumn, against New Zealand and Japan, before being replaced by Mack Hansen.

Hansen was named Player of the Match after scoring a hat-trick against Australia and then rounded off the campaign by playing in the position against the Springboks.

However, the Connacht man is unavailable for the Six Nations, and possily the remainder of the season, because of a foot injury.

Meanwhile, Bundee Aki is definitely out of the France match after being disciplined by the IRFU.