Leinster lose Furlong and Henshaw to injury for the URC quarter-final, but Larmour could return.

Leinster’s hopes of progressing in the United Rugby Championship took a major hit as key duo Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw were ruled out of Saturday’s quarter-final against the Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium.

Both players have been plagued by injury this season, and now their absence threatens to unsettle Leinster’s top-seeded play-off campaign. The Irish province confirmed on Monday that Furlong has suffered a minor calf injury, while Henshaw is facing up to four weeks on the sidelines after picking up a knee issue.

The news will sting for Leo Cullen’s side, who are seeking to avenge their surprise 35-22 defeat to the Scarlets in Llanelli just last month. While Leinster topped the regular-season standings, their shock slip-up to the Welsh side still lingers — and losing two international heavyweights days before the knockout clash is hardly ideal preparation.

Furlong, 32, has had a particularly frustrating year. A combination of calf and hamstring problems limited him to just eight appearances for Leinster this season and a solitary bench cameo in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign. Despite his lack of game time, the powerhouse prop’s pedigree remains beyond question, as evidenced by his inclusion in Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad earlier this month.

Furlong has been a mainstay in Lions history, starting all three Tests in both the 2017 and 2021 series in New Zealand and South Africa respectively. His absence will leave a notable hole in the Leinster scrum.

Centre Robbie Henshaw, meanwhile, had been building form before his knee injury struck. A vital figure in both defence and attack, Henshaw’s four-week recovery timeline suggests he could miss the semi-finals too — if Leinster make it that far.

However, there was at least a sliver of good news from the treatment room. Wing Jordan Larmour is edging closer to a long-awaited return after five months out with a hamstring problem. The 27-year-old, who has 32 Ireland caps, has played only five times this season, last appearing in the interprovincial clash with Munster on 27 December.

Larmour’s dynamic running and counter-attacking flair could offer a much-needed spark, though it remains unclear whether he will be ready for a full return to starting duty or eased in from the bench.

Leinster will hope that their considerable depth can compensate for the high-profile absences. With a home crowd behind them and a point to prove after last month’s upset in Llanelli, the Dublin side still head into the quarter-final as strong favourites.

The Scarlets, who have endured an erratic campaign, will take heart from that earlier win but face an uphill task at the Aviva. Leinster’s attacking precision and tactical kicking game are difficult to contain on the fast surface — but without Furlong anchoring the scrum and Henshaw marshalling midfield, cracks could begin to show.

All eyes now turn to Saturday’s showdown. For Leinster, the mission is simple: get the job done and keep the URC title dream alive — even if they must do it the hard way.