Dan Leavy isn’t even three days injured but he’s already thinking about the way back.
He’s going to miss out on the rest of Leinster’s season, he’s going to miss out on the World Cup too but if his career to date is anything to go by, this man will be back stronger than ever.
After scaling the heights with UCD, the brooding, athletic flanker caught his province’s eye and it didn’t take him long to make his mark there either. No sooner had he passed his 20th birthday by the time he was making his debut for the Leinster first team.
They were on to a good one.
Since then, he’s established himself as a mainstay – for Leinster and for Ireland – and that’s why the horrible injury he suffered on Saturday night against Ulster comes as such a crushing blow for Irish rugby.
In a World Cup year, every injury hits hard but few players in Ireland are as indispensable as the 24-year-old at the moment. A rock of consistency, bravery and doggedness, what you is what you get with Leavy and he always steps up when it matters.
He’s not used to setbacks like this one – the news of his complex knee injury was confirmed on Monday afternoon – but he’s already hungry to get into the rehab work that will get him back on the field.
Struggling to put into words how devastated I am with the injury…
Firstly to miss the business end of the season with my @leinsterrugby brothers and our opportunity to pursue… https://t.co/LfbmKpTWTA
— Dan Leavy (@DanLeafy94) April 1, 2019
“Firstly to miss the business end of the season with my Leinster brothers and our opportunity to pursue another European and league title. Secondly, to miss an opportunity to play in a world cup in Japan is haunting my thoughts. All I have ever aimed for in my career is the opportunity to shine on the world stage for my country and do the nation and my family proud. I fully back the Irish rugby boys to make a little bit of history as they always do and will watch on as number one supporter.
“I have been blown away by the messages of support and encouragement I’ve received already. I am blessed to have the family and friends I do and thank everyone for their well wishes!
“Looking forward to starting the road to recovery soon… I will be back, DL.
No doubt he will.
