Prop Andrew Porter has been ruled out of the remainder of Ireland's Guinness Six Nations campaign with an ankle injury.

The 26-year-old rolled his ankle four minutes into the second half of Ireland's 57-6 victory over Italy on Sunday.

He tried to play on but was replaced by Dave Kilcoyne for the remainder of the match.

"Following a scan on his injured ankle, Andrew Porter has been ruled out of the remainder of our #GuinnessSixNations campaign," the IRFU wrote on Twitter.

"He has returned to Leinster Rugby and his medical treatment will be managed by the Leinster medical team."

Porter had started all three of Ireland's games so far and had been named in the original Lions squad for last summer's tour to South Africa before a foot injury ruled him out.

The IRFU did not say if anyone had been called up to replace the Dubliner but there is a media briefing around lunch time.

Cian Healy or Kilcoyne would be next in line for the 1 shirt, while Finlay Bealham could also cover.

Andy Farrell's side are currently second in the table behind Grand Slam-chasing France and next face England in Twickenham on 12 March.

Meanwhile, Luke Cowan-Dickie will play no further part in England's title challenge because of the knee injury he sustained against Wales.

Hooker Cowan-Dickie could be ruled out for the rest of the season by the damage sustained in the first half of Saturday’s 23-19 victory in round three and will miss England’s last two matches against Ireland and France.

"It’s a pretty significant injury. It’s knee ligament and a bit of cartilage damage," Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said.

"There’s further assessment going on but he’s definitely going to be out for a significant period of time, possibly the rest of the season."

Cowan-Dickie will undergo surgery next week with a view of returning in time for the summer tour to Australia and his absence will see Jamie George take the hooking duties for the final phase of the Six Nations.

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Follow all of Ireland's Six Nations games via our live blogs on rte.ie/sport and on the RTÉ News App or listen to live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch live coverage of England v Ireland on Saturday 12 March (4.45pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Also, see live URC action this week with Ulster v Cardiff (Friday 4 March, 7pm) and Benetton v Leinster (Saturday 5 March, 12.30pm) live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Additional reporting: PA