Munster suffer major double-blow while Leinster receive injury boost ahead of weekend URC quarter-finals

Both players have been a key part of a strong Munster bench in recent weeks, but Graham Rowntree will have to plan without Carbery and Ahern after they picked up injuries during last weekend’s bonus point win over Ulster.

Bordeaux-bound out-half Carbery suffered a thumb injury, while versatile second-row/back-row Ahern will go for a scan today after he picked up an ankle/lower leg injury, which Munster say will rule the Waterford man out “for the coming weeks.”

Centre Rory Scannell will undergo ankle surgery next week after he was also injured in the same game.

In better news, hooker Diarmuid Barron (foot), prop Josh Wycherley (face) and centre Antoine Frisch (leg/groin) will all return to training this week.

Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Patrick Campbell (shoulder) and Alex Nankivell (ankle) remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, ahead of their URC quarter-final against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening, Leinster have been boosted by confirmation that Garry Ringrose is available for selection.

Leinster’s co-captain has been hampered by a shoulder injury since January but he is set to return to full training this week with a view to hopefully featuring at the weekend.

No 8 Jack Conan was withdrawn as a precaution at half-time of last Friday’s win over Connacht, and will be further assessed this week ahead of selection this weekend.

Charlie Ngatai came through the game with no issues after his return from a shoulder injury. But Tommy O’Brien picked up a hamstring injury at the weekend and will enter a period of rehabilitation.

There are no further updates on Jason Jenkins (knee), Liam Turner (arm), Lee Barron (shoulder) and Alex Soroka (foot).