Ireland have suffered a major blow ahead of their Six Nations opener against England next weekend with talismanic prop Tadhg Furlong ruled out of the clash through injury.
The 32-year-old has suffered a recurrence of a calf problem while training in Portugal and will be sidelined for Saturday’s clash at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin that kicks off Ireland’s Six Nations title defence.
Tighthead Furlong has flown home for further assessment and has been replaced in the squad by uncapped Connacht front-rower Jack Aungier, with Finlay Bealham likely to start in the No 3 jersey against England.
The prop missed the entirety of Ireland’s autumn campaign through injury and had only returned for club side Leinster a fortnight ago but has now suffered this new blow.
A statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union said: “Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of next weekend’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations opener against England after suffering a recurrence of a calf strain in training and he has returned to Dublin for further assessment.
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