Flannery set to miss start of Six Nations

Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery is set to miss Ireland’s opening two games of the Six Nations after a scan revealed that he has torn a muscle in his calf.

Flannery suffered the injury in Munster’s victory over Ulster in the Magners League on New Year's Day, having just made a comeback from a similar injury to his other leg.

The injury is a big blow for the 32-year old, who endured a torrid time with injuries last year, missing out on Ireland’s summer tour of the southern hemisphere and the recent November internationals.

As a result of the injury, Flannery will miss Ireland’s opening Six Nations games against Italy and France, as well as Munster’s final Heineken Cup pool games against Toulon and London Irish.

The Munster squad has been named for this weekend’s Magners League clash with the Glasgow Warriors. James Coughlan returns to the squad after seeing a specialist who confirmed his cheekbone injury was not as serious as first thought.

The Munster team will be announced at 12.00pm on Friday.

Munster’s clash with Glasgow Warriors kicks off on Saturday at 7.30pm at Musgrave Park.

Munster squad: Wian Du Preez, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Peter Borlase, Mike Sherry, Damien Varley, Billy Holland, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan, Tommy O'Donnell, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Scott Deasy, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett.