Ulster reveal injury update as Robert Baloucoune and Sean Reidy ruled out

Baloucoune is set to be out for a number of months with the wing requiring hamstring surgery, while back-row Reidy has a calf injury and could be out for “four to six weeks”.

The news comes after it was revealed that Iain Henderson will also be absent as the rugby campaign resumes on Sunday, when Ulster take on Connacht in the Guinness Pro14 in Dublin.

Ireland lock Henderson recently underwent hip surgery and the Ulster captain is set to miss the rest of the Pro14 season and the Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse, with an estimated return date of mid to late October.

Will Addison is recovering from a back injury and prop Andy Warick was due to have surgery this week on his hip.

Angus Curtis is also on the injury list with a knee injury but there was a some good news after new face Alby Matthewson was declared available for the Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse after the the cup-tied rule for this season was waived.

Scrum-half Matthewson played for Munster in the tournament this season and would normally have been ineligible until the rule was relaxed with the season being extended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Ireland and Munster fly-half Joey Carbery has been advised to delay his return to rugby and will be unavailable indefinitely due to a long-standing ankle problem.

Playmaker Carbery initially sustained the injury during his country’s World Cup warm-up game against Italy last August and underwent surgery earlier this year.

The 24-year-old has been instructed to continue his rehabilitation as Munster prepare to return to action on Saturday against Leinster in the Guinness Pro14.

A club statement read: “It has been confirmed that Joey Carbery will not be available for an indefinite period of time.

“Following his latest meeting with the specialist, the 24-year-old has been advised to take further steps in rehabilitating his ankle and to delay his return to rugby.”

Before lockdown, Carbery was also suffering with a wrist ligament injury picked up during his province’s PRO14 defeat by Ulster in January.

The New Zealand born player, who has 22 international caps, has not played since, including missing Ireland’s opening three Guinness Six Nations matches under new head coach Andy Farrell.

Munster head coach Johann Van Graan said: “As disappointing as the latest news is, we have Joey at the centre of it all, going through this, and doing everything right in making sure that when he returns to the pitch he stays on the pitch.

“David (Nucifora, Irish Rugby Football Union High Performance Director), Andy (Farrell) and I spoke with Joey last week and all want what’s best for him.

“We know his standing in the province and Irish rugby and how important he is to us all.

“Our priority is to look after him. He is a young man with huge sporting talent and a bright future, we are here to support Joey at every stage giving him the time he needs.”

Carbery’s ill-fated appearance against Ulster was only his fourth start for province or country since January 2019 after hamstring issues affected him last season.