Ireland forward Ryan Baird is a potential doubt for the 2026 Six Nations after suffering a suspected broken leg during Saturday's 24-13 loss to South Africa with Leinster confirming the flanker will be out of action for up to three months.
The 26-year-old initially attempted to play through the pain before being replaced by Leinster team-mate Jack Conan with 20 minutes remaining.
Following the retirement of former captain Peter O’Mahony, Baird has started his country’s last six Test matches at blindside flanker, having won 20 of his previous 27 caps as a replacement.
Ireland begin the Six Nations on Thursday, 5 February with a trip to holders France, while Leinster are away to Dragons on Friday night in the URC.
"Ryan Baird is unavailable for selection after picking up a leg injury in the game against South Africa at the weekend and will be unavailable for up to three months," said the province, while head coach Leo Cullen later added that he could be back in eight weeks.
Head coach Andy Farrell said after the game: "I believe [he] has fractured his tibia.
"He tried to carry on within all that as well, so there was some courage being shown there."
Ireland wing Tommy O'Brien (head) and centre Robbie Henshaw (hamstring) have both been ruled out of this weekend's game at Rodney Parade.
The URC champions, who sit seventh in the table, also said they expect back Jamie Osborne to be out for "up to four months".
Osborne suffered a shoulder injury in Ireland's win over Japan.
Back row James Culhane also faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury against Zebre last month.
Leinster wing forward Will Connors is unavailable after picking up an arm injury in the game against the Italians.
He is ruled out for "a number of weeks".
However, Joe McCarthy, who suffered a foot injury on British and Irish Lions duty and subsequently broke a bone in the same foot during rehab "has entered the final stages of his rehabilitation from a foot injury and will be further assessed as the week continues".
Ireland are also awaiting a fitness update on Mack Hansen.
The Connacht back, 27, suffered a recurrence of the foot issue which caused him to miss the defeat to New Zealand and victory over Japan earlier this month.
Farrell has plenty to ponder following a bruising outing against the Springboks but insists he has no concerns about Ireland’s scrum.
South Africa outmuscled the hosts en route to a first Dublin win since 2012, with the majority of their 12 scrums forcing penalties.
Ill-disciplined Ireland conceded 18 penalties across a frenetic encounter during which James Ryan was sent off and Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy were sin-binned.
"If you look at our scrum over the last five or six years, it’s been world-class at times," said Farrell.
"There’s a (British and Irish) Lions front row in there (Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong), so that’s not been an issue for us at all.
"It’s been a strength for us and we pride ourselves on that. Sometimes they (South Africa) catch you.
"They’ve caught plenty other teams and the momentum, they kept on going for the blood, didn’t they?"
