Toulon locks ruled out of Leinster game

Bakkies Botha and Ali Williams both injured as defending champions prepare to host province

Bakkies Botha of Toulon will miss the Leinster game, as will Ali Williams. Photograph:  John Berry/Getty Images
Bakkies Botha of Toulon will miss the Leinster game, as will Ali Williams. Photograph: John Berry/Getty Images

Toulon will be without Ali Williams and Bakkies Botha for Sunday's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster at the Stade Felix Mayol (4.30pm Irish time).

Former All Black secondrow Williams has damaged his right bicep and will be out for a fortnight while ex-Springbok lokc Botha suffered a fracture to the radius in his wrist. Virgil Bruni has recovered from injury.

Director of Rugby Bernard Laporte named a 27-man squad for the Leinster match this morning.

The Irish province have a clean bill of health with Cian Healy, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Rhys Ruddock, Dave Kearney and Brian O'Driscoll all available for slection.

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The teams for the quarter-final will be released at lunch-time on Friday.

Toulon squad: S Armitage, V Bruni, C Burden, M Castrogiovanni, L Chilachava, X Chiocci, J Fernandez Lobbe, F Fresia, P Gunther, C Hayman, A Menini, K Mikautadze, JC Orioli, D Rossouw, J Smith, J Suta, D Armitage, M Bastareaud, M Claassens, M Giteau, B Habana, M Mermoz, F Michalak, D Mitchell, D Smith, S Tillous-Borde, J Wilkinson.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer