Leinster rocked as Springbok RG Snyman suffers season-ending injury

Leinster’s push for silverware has been dealt a huge blow with Springbok enforcer RG Snyman likely to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 season.

Snyman, who has scored three tries in nine appearances for the province this season, suffered an injury to his right knee following a heavy collision with Alex Samuel during the second half of their defeat away to Glasgow Warriors.

“He will be out for a while. I will probably get a full report out next week. Unfortunately, he is going to miss a while. It is different from his other leg [ACL, left knee] that he would have injured previously. He could be out for a while,” confirmed Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.

Is the season in doubt? “Yeah,” Cullen responded when probed further, while admitting it was unlikely he’d pull on a blue jersey again before the campaign is out.

Where this leaves Snyman in relation to South Africa’s Nations Championship fixtures in July remains to bee seen. But, in the here and the now, it is Leinster having to deal with the setback.

“I’m more worried about what we do now, than what we don’t have, as you know. So [we] just move on. There’s still plenty of experience there, which is good. No choice but to absorb the blow,” Cullen told The Irish Times.

Cullen was able to give a more positive update on James Ryan (calf) and Ryan Baird (broken leg), with the forward duo close to being available for selection, while Andrew Porter is said to be “in great shape” ahead of his return to the Leinster front row in tonight’s URC clash with Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium.

Porter and fellow Ireland international Jamie Osborne are two of 12 changes from the XV that took to the field in the defeat to Glasgow.

Meanwhile, James Lowe is still four to six weeks away from a return having damaged his groin while playing for Ireland in the Six Nations.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Jimmy O’Brien (112)
14. Tommy O’Brien (55)
13. Garry Ringrose (143)
12. Jamie Osborne (67)
11. Joshua Kenny (11)
10. Harry Byrne (84)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (164) 1. Andrew Porter (143)
2. Dan Sheehan (80)
3. Tadhg Furlong (160)
4. Joe McCarthy (57)
5. Brian Deeny (48)
6. Max Deegan (151)
7. Josh van der Flier (166)
8. Caelan Doris (100) Capt.

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy (24)
17. Jerry Cahir (9)
18. Rabah Slimani (31)
19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (8)
20. Alex Soroka (24)
21. Fintan Gunne (28)
22. Sam Prendergast (44)
23. Robbie Henshaw (114)