Ireland have suffered a major Six Nations setback with Tadhg Furlong ruled out of their opening game against England.
The 32-year-old tight-head prop sustained a recurrence of a calf injury on Saturday and he has returned home from Ireland’s training camp in Portugal for further assessment. Jack Aunger, the Connacht tight-head, has been added to the Ireland squad.
Furlong, who has 78 Ireland caps and toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2017 and 2021, has endured a frustrating season. He missed all four of Ireland’s autumn internationals with hamstring and calf issues and only returned to action for Leinster in their win over La Rochelle three weeks ago.
Finlay Bealham is now in line to continue at tight-head against England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday with Thomas Clarkson, who made his Test debut against Argentina in the autumn, to come on to the bench.
Furlong’s absence is compounded by the fact that Tom O’Toole, who featured three times as a replacement during the November series, is suspended for Ireland’s first two Six Nations games after being sent off in Ulster’s defeat by Munster last month.
In more positive news for the Irish camp, Dan Sheehan and James Lowe have arrived in Portugal after emerging unscathed from Leinster’s United Rugby Championship victory over Stormers.
Sheehan, Ireland’s first-choice hooker, marked his first appearance in six months after an ACL injury with two tries. Lowe, the wing, played the full 80 minutes on his comeback from a calf injury.
Both players are predicted to go straight into Simon Easterby’s 23-man squad to face England, with Sam Prendergast expected to continue at fly half after claiming the No10 jersey from Jack Crowley in the autumn.
England defeated Ireland 23-22 at Twickenham last year with a late drop-goal from Marcus Smith but they have not won in Dublin since 2019.