Beirne to miss opening Six Nations game due to knee injury

Munster second row Tadhg Beirne is set to miss Ireland’s Six Nations games against England and Scotland as a result of an injury he picked up during the Champions Cup win over Exeter Chiefs.

Beirne picked up the knee injury late on in the 9-7 victory at Thomond Park on Saturday the IRFU confirmed this morning.

The former Leinster and Scarlets lock put in a superb performance against the English Premiership leaders that yielded 13 turnovers before the had to leave the game injured.

He has been replaced in the squad for those games by Connacht second row Quinn Roux.

Elsewhere, Andrew Conway will miss Ireland’s pre Six Nations training camp in Portugal after picking up a knock in the same game. He is expected to return to training next week.