Munster and Ireland lock Donnacha Ryan has been ruled out of action for up to six months because he requires surgery on his toe.
The lock injured his right foot against Treviso last March and has not been able to recover, despite “extensive, conservative rehabilitation”. A Munster statement read: “He has unfortunately been unable to rehabilitate the injury fully. He will now undergo surgery next week and is expected to be ruled out for the next four to six months.”
Munster coach Anthony Foley added: "Donnacha has done everything that has been asked of him and we know it has been a tough time for him with the option of surgery available as a last resort. We are now at that point and we just want him to get through the next stage and back to full fitness."
The news means Ryan will definitely miss the November internationals against South Africa, Georgia and Australia and could also miss the Six Nations campaign next spring.
Keith Earls, meanwhile, "will meet with the consultant early next week" to further assess damage to his knee. The Ireland back has not featured this season after picking up the injury in an Ireland training camp in August, while he also missed the Six Nations with a knee injury.
"Tyler Bleyendaal underwent a successful operation on a disc lesion and is feeling comfortable," added the statement. The Canterbury outhalf cum inside centre was due to join the province later this year and it is now unclear as to what the future holds for the Kiwi, who captained New Zealand to the under-20s world cup in 2010.
It all adds to the steady stream of misery bestowed upon new coach Foley, who has had to cope with a string of injuries already, the news about Bleyendaal and the controversy over the candid email that went awry and informed the whole squad exactly what the management team thought of them and their prospects this season.
On top of that, they lost to Edinburgh on the opening day, and though wins over lowly Italian sides, Treviso and Zebre, have followed, a tougher test awaits when league-leaders Ospreys visit Thomond Park this weekend.
