Ireland tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong has returned home to Ireland from the squad’s training base in Portugal and has been ruled out of facing England in the opening match of this year’s Six Nations in Dublin on Saturday.
A squad update issued by the Irish team said that the 32-year-old left Portugal on Saturday and that Connacht’s Jack Aungier has been called up to the squad.
“The Ireland squad is continuing preparations in Portugal ahead of Saturday’s opening round Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Aviva Stadium,” read the statement. “Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of the opening week’s game after suffering a recurrence of a calf strain in training on Saturday and he has returned to Dublin for further assessment. An update will be available later in the week. Connacht’s Jack Aungier has been called up to the squad.”
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The experienced frontrow was unavailable for Ireland’s four matches during the November international window due to a hamstring injury, but he did play in Leinster’s win over La Rochelle in the Champions Cup.
However Rabah Slimani started in Leinster’s match against Bath with Tom Clarkson replacing him after 61 minutes.
Furlong’s probable Ireland replacement will be Finlay Bealham, who is currently in Quinta do Lago with the squad.
Ireland also confirmed that the three Leinster players who delayed their travel to Portugal had arrived in on Sunday. Dan Sheehan, James Lowe and Jack Boyle played with Leinster on Saturday in the United Rugby Championship against South African side Stormers before flying out.
Caolin Blade, the fourth player to remain behind, played in Connacht’s 22-19 defeat to Glasgow Warriors in Scotland on Sunday afternoon and is expected to arrive in Portugal on Monday, where he joins fellow Connacht team-mates Bealham, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Cian Prendergast, who have been in Portugal with the squad since last week.
Forwards coach Paul O’Connell was in no doubt about the importance of the players’ arrival and that they were able to get game time with their clubs before Irish team selection later this week ahead of the first match.
The squad will travel back to Ireland after they complete training in their state-of-the-art facility on Wednesday.
“They’re a big part of the planning next week, so at the same time we thought it was important they got games,” said O’Connell. “Jack Boyle, to play against the Stormers with that quality scrum is important for him. Sheeno’s [Sheehan] been out for a while, so we thought it was really important that they got the games, and it allows us to spend a bit more time with other players. It’s worked out well for us.”
Meanwhile, England head coach Steve Borthwick is having to patch up after losing a number of key players to injury. Among them frontrows Jamie George, lock Alex Coles, backrow Alex Dombrandt and scrumhalves Alex Mitchell and Jack van Poortvliet. None of the five players will be available for their opening game against Ireland.
