Connacht's Billy Bohan has been called up to the Ireland squad for the Guinness Six Nations after Jack Boyle was ruled out due to injury.
Ireland’s injury crisis at loosehead prop worsened yesterday when the Leinster prop suffered the injury in the province's 34-23 BKT United Rugby Championship win away to Connacht.
The 24-year-old had been expected to start for Ireland in their Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Thursday, 5 February, but is now a doubt to feature in the tournament.
Last night, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen suggested the Ireland international's injury could be long-term.
With Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy also ruled out, it leaves head coach Andy Farrell without his first three options at loosehead, for the championship opener in Paris.
Bohan had been due to be involved with the Ireland XV side for their clash with England in Thomond Park next month, but will now join the full squad for their training camp in Portugal this week.
The Connacht academy prop, who only turned 20-years-old in November, has impressed for the province since making his debut in their Challenge Cup win against Black Lion in December, but has just five games of senior rugby under his belt.
The Kildare native, who is a product of Newbridge College, was a regular for Ireland Under-20s last year, making eight appearances.
He joins Munster pair Michael Milne and Jeremy Loughman in contention for the matchday squad in Paris, although Farrell could be swayed by the possibility of playing Ulster’s Tom O’Toole or Connacht’s Finlay Bealham at the other side of the scrum.
Munster’s Tom Ahern has also been replaced in the squad, after failing to overcome a neck injury, with Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu a like-for-like swap.
Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune will also remain with the squad this week as he gets assessed for an injury picked up in the province’s defeat to Scarlets yesterday.
The Ireland squad gathered at the high-performance centre in Dublin this afternoon ahead of their training camp in Portugal this week.
Farrell is due to speak to the media on Monday at the launch of this year’s Six Nations Championship in Edinburgh.
