Leinster and Ireland rugby fans are bracing for a major shakeup this autumn as confirmed injuries and a shifting roster leave Andy Farrell’s squad facing big questions ahead of a daunting November Test series. Hugo Keenan, the ever-reliable full-back for both club and country, has been ruled out until the new year after undergoing hip surgery in the wake of his heroic British and Irish Lions tour in Australia this summer. Keenan’s absence, coming on the heels of his series-winning try in the second Lions test, leaves a gaping hole at the back for Ireland as they prepare to take on heavyweights New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa in a crucial run of matches.
Keenan’s durability and high-level performances have made him a near-constant presence in the Irish backline. His rare absences have always sparked debate about who could possibly fill his shoes. When Keenan missed Ireland’s tour of South Africa in 2024 due to his Olympic commitments, coach Andy Farrell made the bold call to hand Jamie Osborne the number 15 jersey. Though Osborne had mostly plied his trade as a centre for Leinster, those who followed his development weren’t surprised. As an underage player, Osborne was a natural fullback, starring there for the Ireland U20s during the 2021 Six Nations.
Since then, Osborne has quietly but steadily become Keenan’s back-up at fullback for Ireland. He stepped in during the 2024 November Test against Fiji and again in the 2025 Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff, both times acquitting himself with composure under pressure. Now, with Keenan sidelined for the entire November campaign, Osborne is poised for an extended run in the green jersey. The 23-year-old’s versatility was on display again this summer when he started at outside centre against Georgia while Keenan was away. But it’s clear Andy Farrell sees Osborne’s future at the back. In fact, Farrell called him up as injury cover for the Lions tour and kept him in Australia through the end of the series, even handing him his Lions debut against the First Nations & Pasifika XV.
Reflecting on his whirlwind Lions experience, Osborne described the call-up as surreal: “To go from Lisbon [where Ireland were preparing to play Portugal] and then all of a sudden be in Australia to train with the lads and then get an opportunity to play, it was a pretty crazy couple of weeks,” Osborne said. “But I enjoyed every minute of it and to be involved in the squad for the weeks of the Test games just to see the preparations and how the games unfolded was amazing.”
Osborne’s performances didn’t go unnoticed among the Lions’ stars. Owen Farrell, himself a late call-up, was quick to praise the young Leinster man: “Jamie hit the ground running and he got across the detail very quickly, quicker than I did. He’s a lot bigger than I thought he would be when I came into camp. He’s an athlete with a massive left boot on him as well and he runs great lines, so nothing but good things to say about him.”
Now back in Ireland after some well-earned downtime, Osborne is focused on making a strong start to the new season with Leinster. The United Rugby Championship campaign opens with two rounds in South Africa, offering Osborne a chance to cement his place at fullback ahead of the November internationals. “For me, the focus is obviously on the season with Leinster. It starts soon, so you go down to South Africa first two rounds [in the URC] and hopefully I can get a bit of game time early on and kick on from there. Then we can look forward to the autumn but first and foremost, definitely thinking about Leinster,” Osborne explained.
Of course, competition for places at Leinster will be fierce. Last season, the arrival of Jordie Barrett and the strong form of Keenan and Tommy O’Brien saw Osborne miss out on Leinster’s Champions Cup quarter-final and semi-final squads. The stakes will only rise with All Black star Rieko Ioane set to join the province in December, adding another world-class option to the backline mix.
Despite the pressure, Osborne is determined to keep developing his game. He’s especially focused on improving his already impressive left-footed kicking and his defensive versatility. “I think there’s a lot of progress to make in that area,” Osborne said of his kicking. “It’s something that’s probably a strength of mine, having a big boot, but I can be more consistent and maybe have a bit more variation in terms of mixing it up with different types of kicks, especially on edges and little attacking kicks.” As for his defense, Osborne credits coaching from Jacques Nienaber and Simon Easterby, as well as learning from teammates like Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, and Bundee Aki, for boosting his confidence. “I’m definitely more confident, way more confident now than I was at the start of my career,” he said. “I think I’ve gained a lot of confidence the more I’ve played in each position.”
While Osborne gears up for his biggest test yet, Ireland faces other selection headaches. Second row Joe McCarthy is out until November with a foot injury picked up during the first test against the Wallabies. His race to be fit for the November internationals will be closely watched, as Ireland’s depth in the engine room is already being tested.
On the brighter side, there’s hope that Leinster and Ireland captain Caelan Doris could return from a shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined since May. Doris missed the Lions tour after suffering the setback in Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton, but his return would provide a major boost to both club and country as they navigate a challenging schedule.
The November Test window looms large, with Ireland set to open their campaign against New Zealand in Chicago—a city that holds fond memories after their famous victory there nearly a decade ago. That’s followed by clashes with Japan, Australia, and reigning world champions South Africa. It’s a brutal run of fixtures, and the absence of Keenan, combined with ongoing injury concerns elsewhere, means Ireland’s depth and adaptability will be under the microscope like never before.
For Jamie Osborne, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime—a chance to step out of Keenan’s shadow and prove he can be the long-term answer at fullback for Ireland. His journey from promising underage fullback to Lions tourist and now potential Test starter is a testament to both his talent and resilience. As Osborne put it, “Everyone in Ireland is probably really looking forward to them. For me, the focus is obviously on the season with Leinster… Then we can look forward to the autumn.”
With the autumn internationals fast approaching and a host of new faces set to stake their claim, Ireland’s rugby faithful will be watching closely to see who rises to the occasion. The coming weeks promise high drama and, perhaps, the emergence of a new star at fullback in Jamie Osborne.
