Kearney facing months on the sidelines

Leinster and Ireland full back Rob Kearney could miss out on Ireland’s Six Nations campaign after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

Kearney suffered the injury in Ireland’s defeat to New Zealand earlier this month and a squad update issued by Leinster today revealed that the 24-year old faces a lengthy lay off.

“After his surgery last week, Rob Kearney seems set to sit out the next few months on the sidelines,” read the statement, which leaves Kearney’s participation in the Six Nations opener against Italy on 5 February in major doubt.

News of Kearney’s injury will come as a major blow to Ireland coach Declan Kidney, but it is particularly bad news for Leinster coach Joe Schmidt, who is already without Luke Fitzgerald ahead of the crucial back to back Heineken Cup encounters with Clermont Auvergne next month.

Schmidt will be hoping for better news on the fitness of Brian O’Driscoll, who suffered a suspected broken jaw in Ireland’s victory over Argentina on Sunday. An update on O’Driscoll’s injury will be issued this Thursday.