Training ground incident sees Ireland's Cormac Izuchukwu sidelined

Ireland could be set to be without the services of Cormac Izuchukwu after the Ulster forward sustained a training ground injury following his return from international camp.

The IRFU confirmed earlier this week that Izuchukwu was among a group of players released back to their provinces ahead of the resumption of the United Rugby Championship.

However, any prospect of Izuchukwu featuring for Ulster this weekend was quickly ended.

Head coach Richie Murphy confirmed the 23-year-old sustained a concussion in training and will now begin the standard return-to-play process.

“Cormac Izuchukwu sustained a concussion in training this week and he will now follow World Rugby Graduated Return to Play Protocols,” Ulster said in a squad update ahead of their Round 12 clash with Ospreys.

It means the second-row could potentially be out of the reckoning for Ireland’s Six Nations home game with Wales in eight days time.

Izuchukwu featured in Ireland win over Italy in Round 2 of the Guinness Six Nations, playing 58 minutes on the blindside.

He was not included in the squad that travelled to the Twickenham for the hammering of England in Round 3.

As well as Izuchukwu, Harry Byrne, Nathan Doak, Edwin Edogbo, Tom Farrell, Michael Milne, Darragh Murray, Jude Postlethwaite, Cian Prendergast, Tom Stewart and Bryn Ward were all sent back to the provinces ahead of the Six Nations fallow weekend, which conincides with a round of URC games.

The 26-year-old Ulster forward has emerged as one of Ireland standout rising talents since debuting for the Belfast-based province in 2021, although his Test career to date has been curtailed by untimely injuries.

The Offaly native, standing 6ft 7in tall, offers rare versatility across the second row and back row, although he’s played marginally more of his professional career in the engine room.

He recently committed his future to Ulster until 2028.

Ulster Rugby: Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Charlie Irvine, Matthew Dalton, David McCann, Bryn Ward

Replacements: Rob Herring, Angus Bell, Bryan O’Connor, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Ben Carson

Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins, Dan Kasende, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Jack Walsh (C.CAPT), Cormac Foley; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry (C.CAPT), Rhys Henry, James Fender, Ryan Smith, James Ratti, Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morse

Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Steffan Thomas, Tom Botha, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Luke Scully, Evardi Boshoff