Ireland coach Declan Kidney has been handed a huge boost with the news that Brian O’Driscoll is set to return to domestic action in January and be fit for the 2013 RBS 6 Nations.
O’Driscoll has featured just six times for Leinster this season and has not featured since late October when he injured his ankle in his side’s crushing win over Cardiff Blues.
The 33-year-old was forced to sit out Ireland’s autumn internationals as a result but Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt has revealed that O’Driscoll, as well as full-back Rob Kearney and wing Luke Fitzgerald are set to return against Edinburgh on January 4.
“We’d be confident of Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald getting back for Edinburgh,” he said.
Meanwhile, O’Driscoll has pledged to finish his career at Leinster, following reports earlier this season that he was tempted to see out the end of his playing days in the Super XV.
“(In terms of Super 15) that ship has well and truly passed. It was just said tongue in cheek. Maybe at 33 I should know better than to be throwing those comments out there,” O’Driscoll told the Irish Independent.
“If I do play for another few years (after) next year, it will definitely be with the one team, my number one team, Leinster.”