Overview
- Leinster confirmed Ryan Baird sustained a lower‑leg fracture against South Africa and will miss up to three months.
- Jamie Osborne has been ruled out for four months after injuring his shoulder in Ireland’s win over Japan.
- Robbie Henshaw is unavailable for the trip to Newport due to a hamstring issue picked up on international duty.
- Tommy O’Brien will sit out Friday’s game as he follows head injury return‑to‑play protocols.
- Will Connors faces a number of weeks out with an arm injury and James Culhane is sidelined for months with a knee injury, with no fresh updates on Cormac Foley or Hugo Keenan.