Craig Casey: Ireland scrum-half set to miss Six Nations with knee injury
Ireland half-back Craig Casey looks set to miss the Six Nations after Munster confirmed he will be out for “around four months” following knee surgery.
Kessie was forced off injured in Munster’s Champions League defeat to Castres earlier this month.
The 25-year-old has made 18 appearances for Ireland since making his debut in 2021 and featured in three of last month’s four autumn Test matches.
Ireland will begin their defense of the Six Nations title against England on February 1. With Andy Farrell unavailable for the Lions, the defending champions will be led by interim head coach Simon Easterby and will also play away games against Scotland and Wales before traveling to Italy on the final weekend on March 15 vs. France at home.
In other bad news for Munster, Takir Abrahams and Jean Clyne will also be out for around four months after undergoing shoulder and thigh surgeries respectively.
Munster also miss Friday’s United Rugby Championship midfield game against Leinster, with Alex Nankivell and Dave Kilcoyne also missing.
Nankevel picked up a hamstring injury in Munster’s 22-19 win over Ulster last weekend, while Kilco suffered a thigh injury.
Both will undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury and both will be unavailable for the game against Leinster at Thomond Park.
Dean Bloler is completing his return-to-play protocol, with Munster saying “his availability will be determined later this week.”
Diarmuid Barron, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray have all returned from injury and are expected to replace interim head coach Ian Costello.
