Ireland's Will Addison ruled out of November Tests

Ulster utility back Will Addison has been ruled out of Ireland's November Tests.

Addison fractured his leg in Ulster's 23 - 10 win over the Emirates Lions at Ravenhill over the weekend, an injury which will rule him out of Ireland's Autumn Series and potentially threaten his involvement in the Guinness Six Nations.

“Will has got a fracture to his lower leg,” Dan McFarland told a press conference this afternoon. “He had surgery yesterday in the Royal Victoria Hospital to stabilise that fracture. The surgery went well and he's recuperating.”

Flanker Nick Timoney scored two tries as the Northern Irishmen kept up their perfect start to the URC with the bonus-point win over the South Africans to jump to the top of the table.

The men from Johannesburg were still in it at the break, when Ulster led by 12-10, but the hosts pulled away in the second half and scored 14 second-half points to secure the bonus-point win.

However, Addison's injury has marred the win. The 6'1, 95kg fullback who is equally at home in the centres or wing, has earned five Ireland caps to date, since first featuring for the men in green in 2018.

His broken leg is just the latest setback in what is becoming a career riddled with injuries. The 29-year-old was ruled out of last year's Autumn Nations Cup campaign with a back problem that needed surgery. His back issues came after he missed the 2020 Guinness Six Nations with a calf problem.

The Penrith-born utility back is a former England U20 international but is Irish-qualified through his Enniskillen-born mother.

Addison made his debut for Sale Sharks in 2011 and went on to make over 112 appearances for the Manchester-based side, scoring 158 points. This impressive club form had led to calls for him to be included in Eddie Jones’ England squad, but he chose Ireland instead.