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Rugby | Leinster given James Ryan boost ahead of Pro14 final

Leinster have been boosted by the news that James Ryan will be available for the Pro14 final against Ulster this weekend.

Ireland international Ryan has recovered from a shoulder injury ahead of Saturday's clash with Ulster at the Aviva Stadium, having undergone surgery earlier this summer.

The 24-year-old has not played for province or country since Ireland's Six Nations match against England back in February, and Leinster assistant coach Felipe Contepomi has heaped praise on the second row ahead of Saturday's final.

“It’s always great to have players like James available and he’s been looking good,” Contepomi said.

“I think he’s a guy with such a quality that if he’s fit, it just shows the quality of the player he is and he’s made a really good recovery.

“For his young age, he’s so mature that he really has a lot of self control and an understanding of the situation. Probably he’s bursting inside to go and raring to go, but he shows that poise and calmness of a 30-plus-year-old and he’s only 20-plus.”

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1303037821754707972

However, Ryan's Leinster and Ireland teammate Jordan Larmour remains a doubt after failing a HIA in last week's semi-final victory over Munster in Dublin.

Larmour will be cleared to play medically given the final is scheduled for eight days after he suffered the injury, with the IRFU's return to play protocols allowing players to return seven days after failing a HIA.

Calls will be made on Tadhg Furlong (back) and Dan Leavy (knee) closer to Saturday's final. Fergus McFadden has returned to training but won't be involved against Ulster.

Leinster will name their team on Friday, and Leo Cullen has urged his team to "nail the basics".

“We just need to focus on ourselves and try and improve and get better," he said.

"They are all the soundbites but we actually have to go about the process of actually doing it now. All of our efforts will be focused on that.”

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