Connacht scum half Kieran Marmion is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The 26 year old requires surgery on an ankle injury and will be unavailable for selection until February.
Marmion was injured during Ireland's November Test against Argentina, but still started Saturday's historic win over the All Blacks.
He will sit out Connacht’s European Challenge Cup games against Perpignan, Sale and Bordeaux and the Christmas Inter Provincials, but could be fit for the start of the Six Nations.
The province is in South Africa ahead of their games against the Southern Kings and the Cheetahs starting with the Southern Kings on Sunday. Regarding the other injury concerns, there is good news with Paul Boyle, Matt Healy and Peter McCabe all travelling and are available for selection while Cillian Gallagher, Dave Heffernan and Eoghan Masterson have also returned to full training but have not travelled to South Africa. Conan O’Donnell has undergone surgery on a hand injury he sustained in the Dragons game and will be out of action until December and there are no new updates on Eoin McKeon, Craig Ronaldson and Conor McKeon, all of whom are on the longer term injury list.
