Connacht’s Dave McSharry has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a number of concussions sustained over the past 12 months.
The news follows the same medical advice being given to former Connacht lock Mike McCarthy last week after the Leinster player suffered a severe concussion in Ireland's last Six Nations defeat to France.
Connacht say McSharry has been reviewed by a specialist, and has “been advised to undertake a period of rest from the game for the remainder of the current season. Dave, who has a contract with Connacht for next season, will continue to train in a non-contact capacity with the squad.”
Following the weekend’s win over Zebre the province has also confirmed that back row Eoghan Masterson will see a surgeon on Thursday after “suffering significant injury to a number of ligaments in his kne”e. The 22-year-old has also been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Ulster have announced that flanker Sean Reidy has agreed a two-year contract extension, while tighthead prop Ricky Lutton has signed on for another year.
Reidy joined the Province on a short-term contract ahead of the 2014/15 season, after impressing with Counties Manukau Steelers in New Zealand. Injury curtailed his progress in his debut season as he was restricted to just eight games, but his ability and work rate were enough to earn him an extended stay at Kingspan Stadium.
The 26-year-old has featured much more heavily this season, lining out 15 times for Les Kiss’ side.
Lutton, a former Ballyclare High School pupil, returned to Ulster to play for Belfast Harlequins in 2011, following a spell playing in Canterbury, New Zealand. The 29-year-old was awarded ‘Club Player of the Year’ at the Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards in May 2012 and he earned a development contract for the following season. He has amassed 44 caps for Ulster to date, including 19 so far this season.
Meanwhile the Ireland Under-20 team to take on England in Newcastle on Friday night has been named.
Head coach Nigel Carolan has made a number of changes to the side that started against France two weeks ago.
Connacht scrum-half Stephen Kerins makes his first Six Nations start, having been used as a replacement in the opening two games. Jack Power has also recovered from injury and comes back into the side at full-back, with Hugo Keenan shifting back to the wing and Matthew Byrne moving to the replacements.
Up front, Sligo’s Conán O’Donnell returns to the starting line up in place of Conor Kenny who misses the game through injury. His place in the side is taken by Young Munster’s Ben Betts, who will win his first Under- 20 cap should he be called upon from the bench.
In the back-row, Greg Jones is also set to win his first cap as he replaces the injured Max Deegan at number eight, while Will Connors has also recovered from injury and comes back into the team at flanker.
Speaking ahead of the game, Carolan said:
“We were disappointed with the result in France last time out. We started the game well, but we let things slip away from us before half-time and never managed to recover.”
IRELAND: Jack Power (UCD / Leinster); Hugo Keenan (UCD / Leinster), Shane Daly (Cork Con / Munster), Jimmy O'Brien (UCD / Leinster), Conor O'Brien (Clontarf / Leinster); Johnny McPhillips (QUB / Ulster), Stephen Kerins (Sligo / Connacht); Andrew Porter (UCD / Leinster), Adam McBurney (Ballymena / Ulster), Conán O'Donnell (Sligo / Connacht); Peter Claffey (Galwegians / Connacht), James Ryan (Lansdowne / Leinster) (Captain); Cillian Gallagher (Sligo / Connacht), Will Connors (UCD / Leinster), Greg Jones (UCD / Leinster).
Replacements
Shane Fenton (Young Munster / Munster), James Bollard (Dublin University / Leinster), Ben Betts (Munster / Young Munster), Sean O'Connor (Cashel / Munster), Kelvin Brown (Shannon / Munster), John Poland (Cork Con / Munster), Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons), Matthew Byrne (Terenure / Leinster).
