Ireland lock Tadhg Beirne will miss the remainder of the Guinness Six Nations. He was ruled out for up to 12 weeks with an ankle injury.

The 31-year-old Munster player was due to undergo surgery Thursday, having been forced off early in the second half of Saturday’s 32-19 win over France in Dublin.

British & Irish Lion Beirne, who has started his country’s last 14 tests, left the Aviva Stadium on crutches, with his forthcoming absence a major blow for Andy Farrell’s team.

“Tadhg Beirne will undergo surgery today on the ankle injury he sustained in Saturday’s win over France,” read a tweet from the Irish Rugby Football Union. “Unfortunately, Tadhg will be ruled out for up to 12 weeks.”

Farrell said following the weekend game that Beirne’s issue “did not look great,” with his fears subsequently confirmed.

Grand Slam-chasing Ireland sits at the top of the championship table on the back of bonus-point wins over Wales and France ahead of a third-round trip to Italy on Feb. 25.

Two down, three to go! ?#TeamOfUs | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/Dachg3Fh0x

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 16, 2023

Ulster captain Iain Henderson replaced Beirne on Saturday and is the obvious choice to come into the second row to partner James Ryan in Rome.

Leinster’s Ryan Baird and Joe McCarthy and Connacht’s Cian Prendergast are the other options available to Farrell.

Meanwhile, Munster has named its team to play Ospreys in the URC this weekend. 

Ben Healy is among the replacements, after returning from international duty with Scotland.

Munster: Shane Daly; Liam Coombes, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Simon Zebo; Joey Carbery, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Mark Donnelly, Stephen Archer, Jack O’Sullivan, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell.