Trio of Leinster stars ruled out of Champions Cup tie at Bristol

Tadhg Furlong, Jamie Osborne and Will Connors have been ruled out of Leinster's Champions Cup Round 1 match against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate Stadium this Sunday (5.30pm).Ryan Baird has come through the Graduated Return to Play Protocols and is available for selection.

It had been hoped tighthead Furlong, suffering with a hamstring problem and who has not played since mid-October, might make a return following Andy Farrell suggesting he was 'nearly ready' for Australia last weekend.

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Osborne is side-lined following picking up a groin injury in the Autumn Series while Connors picked up a hamstring injury last week against Ulster.Jordan Larmour, Jimmy O’Brien, Lee Barron and Jack Conan, all of whom played against Ulster last week, came through unscathed.Dan Sheehan and Rob Russell remain on the long-term injury list.

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