Caelan Doris faces extended layoff due to shoulder injury

Ireland and Leinster Rugby captain Caelan Doris has been ruled out for four to six months after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The 27-year-old sustained the injury during Leinster's narrow 37–34 loss to Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup semi-final on May 3.

Leinster confirmed that Doris underwent surgery last Friday to repair the damage, with recovery expected to stretch through the summer and possibly into the autumn.

As a result, he will miss Ireland’s summer tests against Georgia and Portugal, and critically, the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia — for which he had been a leading contender for captaincy.

Doris’s absence leaves a gap not just in Ireland’s back row but also in their leadership structure. His recovery timeline raises serious doubts over his availability for Ireland’s autumn internationals against top-tier opposition, including New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and South Africa.

His leadership qualities were on full display during this year’s Six Nations, and he was widely seen as a potential long-term leader for both Leinster and Ireland.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen lauded Doris's effort and commitment, noting that the player continued to perform at a high level even after sustaining the injury.

“He scores a try, rips the ball out of a player's arms, and puts in a 50:22. And that’s all after the event,” Cullen noted, underscoring the forward’s toughness and leadership during the critical semi-final clash.

With Doris ruled out, England’s Maro Itoje has been selected as captain for the upcoming Lions tour.