Caelan Doris will undergo shoulder surgery this week, potentially threatening his participation in this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour.
The No8 was one of the favourites to be named as captain when Andy Farrell announces his squad on Thursday, but that has now been thrown into doubt.
Doris’ club Leinster released a statement on Monday confirming that the Ireland captain would miss their upcoming match against Zebre, after he came off in the second-half of his side’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton on Saturday.
No timeframe has been given for his return, as the summer tour to Australia looms.
“Definitely ruled out of the game is captain Caelan Doris who will undergo a procedure this week on a shoulder injury picked up in Saturday’s game against Northampton Saints,” the club said.
“The full extent of the injury, and implications for the summer, won’t be known until after the procedure.”
The Times report that Doris is not expected to play again this season for Leinster and is in danger of missing the tour to Australia.
The Lions begin their schedule with a match against Argentina in Dublin on June 20, with the first of the three Tests against Australia not until July 19 in Brisbane.
Farrell’s side will then face the Wallabies in Melbourne on July 26 and in Sydney on August 2.
The captaincy was believed to be a choice between Doris and Maro Itoje, who led England impressively during the Six Nations earlier this year.
