Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations build-up has been dealt yet another blow with confirmation that Hugo Keenan suffered a fractured thumb during Tuesday’s training session and will take no further part in preparations for the opener against France.
It follows news earlier today that Bundee Aki has been axed from the travelling party for discplinary reasons.
The IRFU said: “Hugo Keenan will return to Ireland tomorrow after sustaining a fractured thumb in training on Tuesday afternoon in Portugal.”
It remains to be seen how long the injury will keep Keenan sidelined.
Earlier, the United Rugby Championship’s announced it will make a misconduct complaint against Connacht centre Aki.
Aki is set to appear in front of an Independent Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday after the URC alleged Aki engaged with match officials on “several occasions” following Connacht’s defeat by Leinster at Dexcom Stadium last Saturday.
The IRFU had already decided to leave the 35-year-old at home rather than travel with Andy Farrell’s squad to Portugal on Tuesday for a pre-championship training camp at Quinta do Lago and on Wednesday morning issued a statement confirming they had called up uncapped Ulster midfielder Jude Postlethwaite as Aki’s replacement, putting the 68-cap British & Irish Lions’ participation in the upcoming Six Nations campaign as a whole in some doubt.
“The IRFU can confirm that Bundee Aki has not travelled with the Men’s senior squad to Portugal for disciplinary reasons,” its statement said.
“The IRFU does not tolerate any form of disrespect shown towards match officials and does not condone actions that fall below the standards expected of players representing Irish rugby.
“The IRFU are investigating the matter further internally and no additional comment will be made at this time.
“Aki has been replaced in the squad by Ulster’s uncapped centre Jude Postlethwaite.” The IRFU’s swift action underlines the seriousness with which they are treating the allegations against their officials in Galway last Saturday, including match referee Eoghan Cross. It certainly pre-empts the league’s charge against their centrally-contracted player.
That URC charge said Aki “may be deemed to be in breach of the league’s Disciplinary Rules related to Misconduct (including Clause 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)”.
For the purposes of its Disciplinary Rules, the URC in Clause 3.2 defines “Misconduct” as “any act of Foul Play by a Player and/or any conduct, behaviour, statements (including, without limitation, statements made on social networking platforms) or practices by a Club and/or any of its Players, its other Persons or its supporters, on or off the Playing Enclosure, during a Match or otherwise, that is unsporting and/or insulting and/or that brings or has the potential to bring the sport of rugby union, the United Rugby Championship, other Clubs or Persons, match officials, one or more of the Unions and/or any sponsor or other commercial partner of the United Rugby Championship into disrepute and/or that is not in accordance with the competition’s Participation Agreement”.
URC’s statement also highlights its specific clause 3.3.14, which offers a further definition.
“Unsportsmanlike conduct before, during or after a Match (including making requests to Match officials that an opponent be penalised and/or Temporarily Suspended and/or shown a red card; making dishonest accusations of Foul Play against an opponent and/or feigning/exaggerating injury; making inappropriate and/or sarcastic gestures to an opponent and/or a Match official and/or spectators; and intimidating and/or exhibiting a lack of respect for Match officials and/or Pro Rugby Championship representatives, which will include Club medics, Club managers and Club coaches communicating (or attempting to communicate) with any of the relevant Match officials (including the television match official) at any point during a Match (unless invited to do so by the relevant Match official) and/or any Persons entering or attempting to enter the Match officials’ changing room(s), each in breach of clause 4.13 of the Championship Rules).”
With Leinster’s Robbie Henshaw ruled out of the opening match against France in Paris on Thursday week, Postlethwaite has been promoted from the Ireland XV squad due to face England A at Thomond Park the following day and joins fellow Ulsterman Stuart McCloskey, Leinster trio Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne and Tommy O’Brien as well as Munster’s Tom Farrell as potential starters at Stade de France.
Aki started Ireland’s final game of 2025, November’s home defeat to South Africa but with McCloskey having occupied the inside centre role against New Zealand and Australia he will be favourite to start against the defending champions.
