Ireland's Kearney doubtful for World Cup opener
ByReuters
Published 17/09/2019 at 07:00 GMT
Sept 17 (Reuters) - Ireland fullback Rob Kearney is in doubt for its Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland on Sunday after sustaining a calf problem in training, a team spokesman confirmed on Tuesday.
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The 33-year-old, who has 92 caps, will be monitored by the medical team to gauge his fitness ahead of Ireland's Pool A game in Yokohama.
"He's got a bit of tightness in his calf," an Ireland spokesman told the World Cup website https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/463637.
"There's no training today. We'll be able to update again (on Wednesday) on how he's going."
Kearney's potential absence for the world's top-ranked team would be a further injury blow with centre Robbie Henshaw set to miss the Scotland game due to a hamstring issue.
Winger Keith Earls is still returning to fitness following an injury sustained during this month's 19-10 warm-up victory over Wales.
Joey Carbery returned to training on Monday for the first time since suffering an ankle ligament injury as Joe Schmidt's team beat Italy 29-10 in Dublin last month.
Kearney's Leinster team mate Jordan Larmour could fill in for him while Munster's Andrew Conway is another option.
Six-times quarter-finalists Ireland also face hosts Japan, Russia and Samoa in the group stages. (Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Louise Heavens)
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