Northampton captain George Furbank is out of Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final towards Leinster.
The England full-back marked his return from the damaged arm he suffered in December with a attempt as Saints powered previous Castres 51-16 within the quarter-final.
However Furbank continues to be feeling the consequences of getting metallic plates inserted into his arm and can miss this weekend’s blockbuster in Dublin.
“George gained’t play this weekend,” stated director of rugby Phil Dowson.
“He’s struggling to get over that arm break and getting back into contact is hard for him. He keeps getting whacked and it’s going numb and it’s very painful.
“I don’t think that’s unusual for an arm that’s been plated. He’s clearly desperate to get back in, particularly for a game like this, but unfortunately it’s too soon.”
Dowson was unable to say whether Furbank will play a part again this season, or if he would be available should the Lions come calling this summer time.
“It’s week by week actually.” added Dowson. “He’s not a mushy lad but it surely’s clearly very painful, and worst-case we don’t need to make it any worse.
“We’re attempting to handle that conservatively with the stresses of time operating out as properly.
“I believe it’s very variable however my impression is it takes some time to get again into it. There’s not an enormous quantity of meat round that a part of the physique when you’re swinging it round and touchdown on it in a sort out or different persons are touchdown on it.
“I couldn’t let you know what’s going to occur. I’ve requested the physio about 485 occasions if he can play and the physio has stated no each time. I’ll ask once more subsequent week.”
Saturday’s showdown is a repeat of final season’s semi-final, which Leinster gained 20-17.
Saints have nearly no likelihood of creating the Premiership play-offs in defence of their title, so the Champions Cup is realistically their final likelihood of silverware this season.
