Tuesday 19 September 2017 09:13, UK
Captain Rory Best, Rob Kearney and Dan Leavy are all facing a fight to be fit for Ireland's autumn internationals.
Ulster hooker Best is out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, while Leinster say Kearney (hamstring) and Leavy (ankle) could miss as many as eight weeks.
That prognosis, taken from the day of Leinster's update on Monday, would sideline both players for Ireland's meeting with South Africa on November 11.
Best, injured in Ulster training last week, appears almost certain to miss his club's opening two European Rugby Champions Cup games against Wasps and La Rochelle.
And a six-week absence would leave the 35-year-old little time to prove his fitness for the South Africa game.
Ireland's other two autumn Tests are against Fiji on November 18 and Argentina a week later.
Watch Ireland's autumn internationals and this season's European Rugby Champions Cup live on Sky Sports.
