Caelan Doris faces lengthy spell on sidelines after shoulder surgery

May 12, 2025

Caelan Doris will face up to six months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury.

The Leinster and Ireland captain injured his shoulder in defeat against Northampton Saints, which cruelly ruled him out of the Lions Tour.

Fears over the severity of his injury were raised when he missed out on Andy Farrell’s 38-man squad for the tour of Australia. Doris was in contention to be named captain, which was ultimately handed to Maro Itoje.

A short update from Leinster read: “Caelan Doris had a procedure on Friday last week for a shoulder injury which will keep him out of action for between four to six months.”

Doris will now target the autumn internationals for his return, with Ireland taking on New Zealand, Japan, South Africa and Australia in November.

Farrell revealed Doris was left “devastated” after missing the British and Irish Lions Tour, but backed him to come back stronger.

He said: “I have [spoken to him]. You can imagine he’s devastated. He would have definitely been in the mix, he’s such an experienced player and leader.

“It’s devastating for people like that. It’s always a constant in every single tour. Sport can be cruel sometimes. Caelan will be back bigger and stronger.”

On the back of Leinster’s 76-5 win over Zebre at the weekend, fullback Hugo Keenan says Doris’ injury will motivate the rest of the team to end their four-year wait for silverware and win the BKT URC.

Leinster are one of five out of a possible eight teams who will make up the play-offs. Speaking to RTE Sport, Keenan said: “I have been in touch with him, we are all gutted for him.

“He’d be one of my best mates, we lived together for two years. We get on so well. He’s our leader for what he does on and off the pitch.

“He’s so important for us, but it means we have a bit more of a responsibility to do it for him, really, to make sure he’s lifting that URC [trophy] up.

“We can all say that he was going to be on that Lions plane but it’s just unfortunate timing.”