IRELAND prop and new Wasps signing Marty Moore could miss the entire RBS 6 Nations with a torn hamstring.
Leinster tighthead Moore, who has won 10 caps since making his international debut in 2014, faces six to eight weeks on the sidelines and has been replaced in Joe Schmidt’s squad by the uncapped Connacht prop Finlay Bealham.
Australia-born Bealham (24) qualifies through his grandmother, who is from Enniskillen, and he has played for Ireland U20s and Emerging Ireland.
Moore, who confirmed yesterday that he will be joining Aviva Premiership club Wasps ahead of the 2016-17 season, will be absent until at least the start of March after being injured in Leinster’s heavy European Champions Cup defeat last weekend.
Fly-half Jonathan Sexton, who was injured in the same Wasps-Leinster game, has to go through the return to play protocols after coming off with a head injury during the early stages at the Ricoh Arena.
The 30-year-old missed Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Italy last year after being stood down from all rugby for 12 weeks after a series of concussions in a short space of time.
But a medical update on the official Irish Rugby Football Union website yesterday said Sexton “has passed both head injury assessment (HIA) 1 and 2 and will complete HIA 3 tomorrow.”
The IRFU also said centre Robbie Henshaw suffered no ill-effects after making a try-scoring return for Connacht in their 47-5 European Challenge Cup victory over Enisei-STM on Saturday.
Henshaw had not featured since suffering a broken hand in November, but is now expected to be available for Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations opener.
Ireland start the defence of their Six Nations crown against Wales in Dublin on February 7 and play France, England and Italy before finishing at home to Scotland on March 19.
As for Moore’s move to Wasps meanwhile, the 24-year-old tighthead says he is excited about the switch.
Moore has won 10 caps since making his international debut in 2014 and been part of Ireland’s last two RBS 6 Nations title-winning squads.
He has made 58 Leinster appearances since his debut for the Irish province in 2012, but is looking forward to a new challenge in his career.
“I’m really pleased to have signed a contract with Wasps to join next season,” said Moore.
“I am looking forward to working with Dai Young and his coaching team as well as the squad and am excited about the challenge ahead in the Aviva Premiership.”
Wasps have not disclosed the length of Moore’s deal at the Ricoh Arena.
“Marty has already proven his international pedigree with Ireland and, at only 24, he has plenty of years ahead of him to continue his development and become a top-class tighthead,” said Wasps director of rugby Young.
“We already have talented tightheads at the club, but his addition will strengthen the depth we have in this key position and will help to drive competition for places, which is what we are trying to achieve throughout the squad.”
