Facial surgery sidelines Ireland prospect for 4 to 6 weeks

Ireland prospect Ciaran Frawley has been ruled out for four to six weeks after sustaining a nasty facial injury.

The Leinster centre picked up the injury against Edinburgh at the weekend. The 24-year-old has been in flying form for the European heavyweight, becoming a regular in Leo Cullen's midfield this season.

He was called in Andy Farrell's Autumn Nations Series squad last October but was absent from Ireland's Guinness Six Nations squad.

"Sadly, Ciarán Frawley sustained a facial injury in the first half against Edinburgh Rugby and had a procedure over the weekend. He will be unavailable for four to six weeks," a statement from Leinster confirmed.

Cullen welcomed back Cian Healy, Ryan Baird and Jordan Larmour this weekend as the trio are released from Ireland camp for the fixture. In other positive news, both Josh Murphy and Dave Kearney came through their returns from injury against Edinburgh without any issue, the province confirmed.

"Rhys Ruddock, ruled out before the win against the Scottish club, has a minor quad injury and will be further assessed this week before a decision is made on his availability.

"Jimmy O'Brien (calf) will also be further assessed this week while James Lowe is due to return to training."

Frawley won high praise from Ronan O'Gara recently, who was shocked that he hadn't made the Ireland squad.

“It’s very competitive. You might think it is easy to pick 37 but another name jumping straight out at me is Ciaran Frawley, who didn’t make the squad. For me, he is probably the nearest thing to an Aaron Mauger we have on this side of the hemisphere.

“He is so adept at playing either ten or twelve, that second receiver role. He looks so, so interesting as a player. He has the physical attributes to play a direct game and then his feet are excellent, his passing game is excellent, his recognition of space is very, very good and he seems to be a threat every time he plays. For him not to be among the best 17 backs is probably incredibly disappointing for him.”