Luke McGrath set to miss the Six Nations

Ireland's Luke McGrath is set to miss the entire Six Nations after he was ruled out of action for up to eight weeks with a knee ligament injury.

McGrath sustained the injury against Toulouse and was stretchered off the field last weekend and the province's scrum coach John Fogarty confirmed the diagnosis.

"Unfortunately for Luke he’s picked up a knee ligament injury against Toulouse and he’s going to be missing for up to eight weeks so we’re disappointed for Luke.

"On the other front Johnny is not quite there. He’s rehabbing a tendon issue that he’s had in his knee and he’s just not quite there.

"He’s close, he’s been very close but unfortunately I think the week isn’t long enough for us and he’s run out of time a little bit, which is disappointing for us but Ross [Byrne] has been doing very well and he’ll step in and hopefully do a good job.

"We want to make sure we’re giving the players the best opportunity to perform for us and for the national team as well, so it’s with that in mind that we’re making sure the players are in the best health so they can do that."