Henshaw hoping to prove fitness fast enough to make Leinster debut against Munster

ROBBIE HENSHAW HAS pencilled in Leinster’s Champions Cup opener against Castres (15 October) as a likely comeback date,  but he may even see action a week earlier if all goes to plan.

The Ireland centre made his way onto the Leinster training pitch for the first time this week as he recovers from summer knee surgery. But the dangling carrot of Munster’s visit to the Aviva Stadium on 8 October is impossible to ignore.

“I think it’s 15 and a half weeks this week,” Henshaw said, totting up his time on the sideline.

“If everything is perfect, potentially I could come back earlier than expected, but as I said it’s day to day.

“I’ve two good sessions under my belt, no flare-ups with the knee, that’s positive news. If I can get through to the end of this week and start into next week and we’ll see what happens.

The new Leinster European jersey will be worn for the first time against Castres in the Champions Cup. Available exclusively from Life Style Sports. Source: Stephen McCarthy/SPORTSFILE

The former Connacht star added: “Definitely. I’m not fair off. I’m really itching to get out there, get into the blue shirt and put some performances together on the pitch. It’s been a long enough recovery.

“I started this week on my pitch work. I’m back getting the feel of a rugby ball again, which was great, and running around with the lads on the pitch. I’m doing two pitch sessions this week, taking it day-to-day and hopefully in the next couple of weeks I might be out there.”

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