Ireland update: Replacement named for the injured Tom Ahern

Rookie Tom Ahern has missed out on the chance to learn the Test-level ropes with Ireland as he has dropped out of the squad that Andy Farrell will take with him to Portugal ahead of next week’s Guinness Six Nations opener away to France.

Farrell last week named a 34-strong squad for a title defence that begins in Marseille on February 2. Three training panelists – Ahern and fellow uncapped players Oli Jager and Sam Prendergast – were also included for this Wednesday’s trip to Quinta do Lago.

Ahern, though, was kept overnight in hospital in Limerick last Saturday following Munster’s Investec Champions Cup defeat to Northampton after he was on the receiving end of red-carded play from Curtis Langdon – a knee to the head at a ruck.

He will now miss linking up with Farrell’s Ireland and his place has been taken by Connacht’s Cian Prendergast.

A statement read: “Cian Prendergast will replace Tom Ahern in the Ireland travelling squad for this week’s training camp in Portugal. Wishing Tom a speedy recovery as he continues his rehabilitation with Munster.”