LEINSTER expect hooker Sean Cronin to be out for 10 weeks with a hamstring injury, ruling him out of the RBS 6 Nations.
The 31-year-old, who has 56 caps, was anticipated to be Rory Best's deputy in the tournament. But Cronin suffered the hamstring tear against Zebre and is out for more than two months, Leinster said on Monday.
Ireland's Six Nations campaign begins against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 4. Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster said on rbs6nations.com: "It's quite a significant hamstring injury.
"It's a real shame for him as he's actually playing great rugby but it's a good opportunity for us to get him right and make sure we don't get a recurrence of this because it must be hugely frustrating for him.
"He's got himself into great form and now he'll miss the RBS 6 Nations. He went to push-off and accelerate around the corner and saw it go. He's deeply disappointed but he'll be back a better player."
