Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong is said to have “progressed well”, ahead of a potential return from injury in time for the opening match of the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations. Assistant coach Simon Easterby provided a positive injury update on the Leinster tight-head, who is recovering from a calf injury at the Ireland camp in Quinta do Lago, Portugal.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Easterby confirmed that Furlong participated in the Ireland training session this afternoon in the Southern tip of the Iberian peninsula. The 33-year-old has not played since he sustained the calf injury on duty for Leinster, in the province’s Investec Champions Cup win over Bayonne back in mid-January. Easterby was happy with what he saw from the 82-capped Ireland international, ahead Thursday’s Six Nations opening clash in Paris.
“He got through some good work actually.” Easterby said, at Ireland’s team camp Quinta do Lago. “He’s progressed really well and we’ve been happy with the majority of the lads who have been training and some of them have come in with little niggles, but everyone’s progressing really well and we had everyone available to train today.
When asked if Furlong would be available for selection, Easterby said; “At the moment, yeah, I think today was important and obviously tomorrow will be another important training day, but so far so good.”
This is a positive update for Ireland’s thinned out propping ranks, following a string of injuries to their front row talents.
There was a further shake-up to the Ireland squad, with Connacht prop Billy Bohan confirmed to be leaving the camp, to join up with the Ireland XV team ahead of their incoming match against England A at Thomond Park on Friday. Leinster back Ciaran Frawley and Ulster back row Bryn Ward are also confirmed to be joining up with the Ireland XV in Limerick.
“The young lads, as I said a little bit earlier, have really stepped up.” Easterby added. “They’ve connected up. One of the real strengths of this group, and it always has been for the last four or five years, has been guys coming in, will get support from the more experienced players and it’s up to the young guys to step up as well and they’ve done that too.
“The more experienced players have been excellent in the way that they’ve brought players into the system. That makes it really encouraging, but it also makes the training really competitive, and it has been.
“Today was a great session. Without it being full contact, it was very good, it had a good pace to it, a good bit of physicality and a lot of those youngsters have stepped up in the last week.”
It has been a unique week for Andy Farrell and the Ireland coaches, as along with juggling a litany of injuries, there has been the the issue of Bundee Aki’s disciplinary to deal with. The midfielder was penalised for his conduct, in how he spoke to the match officials following Connacht’s United Rugby Championship defeat to Leinster.
Aki did not travel out to Portugal for the camp, with the centre facing a ban for the first three matches of the Six Nations, against France, Italy and England. Despite Aki’s ban following the URC inter-pro clash, Easterby is happy with the processes his squad takes when addressing match officials at international level.
“We always have a process around the captain and his communication with the match officials, that hasn’t changed. We’re really happy with our process and how we do things in Ireland camp and it’s important that we continue that throughout the Six Nations.”
LATEST SIX NATIONS NEWS
- “Nothing to fear”- Smith sets sights on daunting England Six Nations opener
- “France 4/6” – Latest Betting Odds revealed for 2026 Men’s Six Nations Winner
- Gregor Townsend on the key rule change that will change Scotland’s approach this Six Nations
- “England as Favourites” – Anthony Watson firmly backs England for 2026 Six Nations Grand Slam
- Bundee Aki and Hugo Keenan sent home from Ireland squad ahead of 2026 Six Nations opener
