British and Irish Lions prop Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Ireland’s Six Nations opener against England on Saturday by injury.
Furlong, 32, suffered a recurrence of a calf injury at Ireland’s training camp in Portugal on Saturday and has returned to Dublin for further assessment.
Connacht’s Jack Aungier has been called up to the Six Nations holders’ squad as a replacement.
The experienced tighthead prop missed all four November internationals for Ireland with a hamstring issue and only returned for Leinster in their win over La Rochelle three weeks’ ago before missing the province’s last European game against Bath.
Furlong’s absence means Finlay Bealham is likely to start against England at the Aviva Stadium.
More to follow.
