Munster suffer O’Leary injury blow

Munster have been rocked by the news that scrum-half Tomás O’Leary is set to be out of action for two months with a broken thumb.

O’Leary sustained the injury in Munster’s Magners League defeat to Leinster on Saturday evening and underwent an operation on Tuesday.

The Irish international is set to miss Munster’s Heineken Cup pool games against London Irish and Toulon, while he will also miss of host of Magners League games.

O’Leary is also almost certain to miss Ireland’s November internationals against South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.

Peter Stringer is likely to take O’Leary’s place at provincial level, while Leinster’s Eoin Reddan is the most likely candidate to don the number nine jersey for Ireland in O’Leary’s absence.

Munster rugby issued a statement on the matter which read: “Tomas O'Leary, who injured his thumb in the game against Leinster, has been ruled out of Munster action for the immediate future.

“O'Leary had an operation on Tuesday and could be out for anything from six to eight weeks.”

Munster have also confirmed that they will not appeal the seven-week suspension which was handed down to Lifeimi Mafi earlier this week for a high tackle on Gordon D’Arcy during Saturday’s encounter.