Jerry Flannery is likely to miss an additional six weeks of action after scans taken yesterday confirmed his fears.
The scan showed up a torn calf muscle, meaning the Munster hooker will miss the Provinces remaining pool games in the Heineken Cup along with the opening rounds of Ireland's Six Nations campaign.
Flannery has missed the majority of the season with a troublesome left calf injury which he aggravated in Heineken Cup action against Toulon in October. Like teammate, Paul O'Connell, Flannery lasted only a matter of minutes in his return from injury against Ulster on New Year's Day.
In the dying moments of that game the Shannon forward was forced to hobble off obvious pain. Munster coach Tony McGahan, was quick to point out that day that the injury is not the same muscle which has proved troublesome thus far, but the right leg this time round.
"It's a different calf (injury), not the same one. We'll just have to wait and see.
"Jerry is quite upset and everyone is feeling for him at this point in time.-
"He worked really hard to get back from where he was and there is no doubt he will work really hard to get back from this one as well.
"I haven't gone through the details with him, he just knows it is injured and we will wait and see with the scan."
That scan came back on Wednesday with disappointing news. Forcing McGahan to include Mike Sherry as cover for, regular hooker, Damien Varley in a 27 man squad before this weekend's Magners league clash with Glasgow Warriors.
Also included in the squad is James Coughlan. The back rower suffered a cracked cheekbone against the Ospreys but has been given the green light to play after seeing a specialist who deemed the fracture was not as serious as first feared.
From an Irish standpoint, Flannery's absence will heap extra pressure on the wide shoulders of Ulster's Rory Best who made a timely return from injury in the 35 – 10 defeat at Thomond Park. Connacht's Sean Cronin will also relish the chance to hone his skills and move up the pecking order of line out throwers.
Ireland will kick off the Six Nations on February 5th in Rome and face France in the Aviva Stadium eight days later. Flannery will miss both unless the more optimistic prognosis of a four week layoff comes to pass.
Meanwhile, another Irish front rower has agreed to renew his contract with the IRFU. Leinster's loose-head prop, Cian Healy reportedly shunned the advances of some top French and English sides to remain in his home land in a bid to cement his place in the national XV.
Speaking on Wednesday the 23 year old said:
"I am delighted to have my new contract signed as it means I can continue to concentrate on playing for my home province and improving my game further,"
"It has been a good couple of weeks for us and so I just want to focus on playing well for Leinster to keep me firmly in the plans of Declan (Kidney) and the national team."
In the midst of some lengthy negotiations as the union tries to keep hold of its marquee players, Ireland coach Declan Kidney welcomed the news, saying:
"For a young player like Cian who has progressed really well over the last 18 months this is good news as it allows him to continue to develop as a player in Ireland."
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