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Leo Cullen gives disappointing update on return for Ireland captain

Published 12:39 14 Sept 2026 BST

Updated 12:39 14 Sept 2026 BST

SportsJOE
Leo Cullen gives disappointing update on return for Ireland captain

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Not looking good....

Leo Cullen spoke to the media following Leinster's pre-season demolition of Zebre on Saturday, in front of the new Anglesea stand at the Laya Arena.

Most headlines centred around Cullen's comments on his final season as head coach and whether we will see a 'lame duck' Leinster over the next few months.

Cullen spoke out strongly in response, saying: “I won’t have it, honest to God. I hate that expression ‘lame duck’ and I have no intention of being one. It will be very clear. There’s no point in elaborating the message. We won’t be taking bullshit off anybody this year. Nobody. None of our players, nobody.”

However, perhaps the biggest story to come from his interview was his update on Ireland and Leinster captain Caelan Doris, who missed his country's summer tour due to a foot injury.

A November return does not look likely, and when asked whether he would be back for the Six Nations, the response from Cullen was not promising.

He said: “I don’t know at this point, is the honest answer. If you’d asked me two weeks ago, I would have said yes. But now it would be uncertain.”

He added: “I think most people know my feelings of that. He should never have gone in the first place, but that’s what happens when you get strong armed by somebody else at the top.”

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