A much-needed respite from rugby has turned into a nightmare for Connacht's Jack Carty who has undergone surgery in Dubai to remove his spleen.

After a run of 16 games on the trot, the Connacht outhalf was among a group of Connacht players and their partners on a six-day break in the United Arab Emirates capital when he ruptured his spleen on a waterside, necessitating emergency surgery.

Connacht coach Pat Lam, in relaying the “sad news”, said the 23-year-old would remain in hospital in Dubai this week, and was likely to be out of action for anything up to three months.

“At first he just thought it was bruising, but he had a bit of pain and when he had it checked, there was some internal bleeding, and a scan found the spleen. He had surgery over in Dubai this morning (Monday).The spleen has been removed, and he has to stay another week recovering in Dubai. His parents flew over there on Sunday.

“You go from week-in week-out taking big hits and surviving that, and then you get a knock on a water slide. The most important thing now is he makes a full recovery. On the back of that, it’s an unknown really, so we will follow the medical team.”

Connacht, having won their last six games with the Dragons, head to Wales on Thursday with hopes that both wing Matt Healy and flanker Sean O'Brien will be available if they complete their final test for concussion, while Jason Harris Wright has gone through the protocols following the Brive fixture and is clear to play. Number eight Eoin McKeon is also available after a hip injury, while prop JP Cooney featured for Garryowen at the weekend after shoulder injury in October.

“We are under no illusions going to Newport. Although we have not lost to them for a while, they are always a tough team to put away. While I was away in Spain, I downloaded their game against Ulster, and watched it on the flight home, and they should have won without a doubt.”