Ulster backs Andrew Trimble and Luke Marshall will both miss Ireland's November series of games, with Trimble a possible doubt for next year's Six Nations.
Trimble injured a big toe in the Pro12 game against Glasgow on October 11th, in which he scored and missed the province's opening European Champions Cup defeat away to Leicester at the weekend.
A medical update from Ulster released at lunchtime on Tuesday confirmed that the 30-year-old had “suffered significant ligament damage” to his toe in the game.
The statement went on to say that in conjunction with the Ireland medical staff a second opinion on the injury will be sought, but that Trimble “is expected that he will be out of rugby for a period of months”.
A further update will be released later in the week.
Luke Marshall’s return to the Ulster first team will be further delayed after he sustained a medial ligament injury to his left knee in the Ulster Ravens match against Yorkshire Carnegie at the weekend. The centre is expected to be out of rugby for six weeks.
Marshall has not played for the senior team since being replaced in the second half of the home game against Zebre on September 12th
