Leinster and Ireland hooker Sean Cronin is expected to be out of action for around three months due to a shoulder injury, the Irish club revealed on Wednesday.
Cronin, 28 and capped 43 times by Ireland, has undergone surgery to repair tendon damage in his left shoulder.
“After medical advice, Sean Cronin has this afternoon (Wednesday) undergone surgery to repair damage to a tendon in his shoulder,” Leinster said in a statement on the club website.
“The operation has gone well, but Sean will miss the rest of the Leinster Rugby season, which involves games against Treviso and Edinburgh in the Guinness PRO12. The expected rehabilitation period is 12 weeks.”
Cronin came off the bench in all five of Ireland’s games in their title-winning Six Nations campaign.
He will hope to return to full fitness in time for Ireland’s opening World Cup warm-up game against Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on August 8.