Horgan is latest Munster casualty

MUNSTER winger Anthony Horgan may be out of competitive rugby for at least six months in what is another serious injury blow to new coach Alan Gaffney.

Having already lost David Wallace and Paul O’Connell to long term injury, Gaffney is now faced with losing Horgan until January when the Heineken Cup campaign will be getting into its second phase.

Horgan had an MRI scan on a long term shoulder injury yesterday and it is understood that he will now undergo an operation in two weeks time which will keep him out until the final two group games in January.

The 26-year-old has had a very unfortunate run of injuries in recent times and was forced to miss the Heineken Cup Final against Cardiff at the end of May after breaking a bone in his hand in a freak training accident on the eve of the game.

That injury, in turn, forced him to miss the Irish tour to New Zealand in June and what would almost certainly have been a first cap for his country.

However, the shoulder injury actually dates back to Munster’s Heineken Cup pool game against Castres in France last year and although he was able to manage to play with it through a full campaign with the Ireland ‘A’ team this year and also he played a full part in Munster’s run to the European Cup final, he injured the shoulder again during the squad session in Poland.

With nine tries in Heineken Cup rugby, Horgan is a vital attacking link in Gaffney’s plans, but the coach will have to do without the 14 stone winger at least until the new year.

Another injury concern for the coach is John O’Neill who turned on an ankle during the trip to Poland. In this instance, however, the injury will only keep him out for three weeks.

The news concerning Paul O’Connel was better than originally anticipated and the planned date for his return has moved forward to December.

O’Connell is recovering well after surgery and he may now be named in the squad for the European campaign.

According to Alan Gaffney, Munster have six weeks to finalise their panel of players and he sees no reason why O’Connell cannot be included.

David Wallace, another shoulder injury victim, is out until the new year, but his absence has been cushioned somewhat with the signing of Eddie Halvey from London Irish.

Munster’s other new signing, Australian prop Simon Kerr, is not expected for another eleven days.