Ireland flanker David Wallace has been ruled out of action for up to six months after a scan confirmed his shoulder injury required surgery.
The Munster star has been plagued by the injury all season and he will go into the Blackrock Clinic a week on Friday for an operation. His recovery time is estimated at six months, ruling him out of Ireland's autumn international programme and the World Cup qualifiers as well as the first half of Munster's season. The 27-year-old explained that he could not have put off the surgery for any longer. "I suppose I always knew I'd have to have something done about it. There was no point in trying to go on as I was going because it just wasn't clearing up so it really was a question of biting the bullet," he told the club's official website, www.munsterrugby.ie. "It looks like it will be after Christmas before I will be back playing." Munster coach Alan Gaffney, who will have to search for a replacement loose forward, has strengthened his front row after failing to sign Fletcher Dyson from Australian Super 12 side the Queensland Reds. The Irish province have turned their attention, instead, to the Reds' experienced prop Simon Kerr and the 32-year-old will join in August. Kerr can play tight or loose head, and was with the New South Wales Waratahs in 1997, when Gaffney was their backs coach. PA