Fitzgerald ruled out of Six Nations

LUKE FITZGERALD will miss Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam defence after sustaining a serious knee injury in Sunday’s autumn international draw with Australia.

The news that Fitzgerald faces four to six months on the sidelines is also a huge blow to Michael Cheika’s Leinster as the province bid to become the first side since Leicester Tigers to land back to back Heineken Cup titles.

Fitzgerald, who featured for the Lions in the Tour of South Africa during the summer, sustained ‘a ruptured lateral collateral ligament’ in an accidental 53rd minute clash against the Wallabies.