Ireland have been dealt a major setback ahead of their Guinness Six Nations opener against England this Saturday, with star tighthead Tadhg Furlong sidelined due to a calf injury.
The Leinster prop, who only recently returned to action following a string of hamstring and calf issues, will be replaced in the squad by Connacht’s Jack Aungier.
Furlong’s injury woes date back to the Autumn Nations Series in November, which he missed entirely.
Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
He made a brief return to the pitch in mid-January during Leinster’s Champions Cup victory over La Rochelle but has since struggled to maintain fitness.
Although he travelled with the Irish squad to their warm-weather training camp at Quinta do Lago, the IRFU has confirmed Furlong will miss the clash at Twickenham, with no timeline given for his recovery.
BKT United Rugby Championship, RDS, Dublin 11/5/2024 Leinster vs Ospreys
Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Finlay Bealham is now expected to earn his 49th cap, stepping into the starting role, while either Thomas Clarkson or debutant Aungier will provide cover from the bench.
Aungier, a 26-year-old Dubliner who joined Connacht from Leinster in 2021, is earning his first senior Ireland call-up.
Used to sharing the load with Bealham at Connacht, Aungier caught the eye with a strong performance for Emerging Ireland in South Africa last year.
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