Injury rules Trimble out of Italy clash

ANDREW TRIMBLE will miss Ireland’s opening Six Nations clash with Italy due to a broken bone in his right hand.

Trimble sustained the metacarpal injury in Ulster’s Heineken Cup victory over Aironi on Saturday and meets with specialists later this week to determine the duration of the lay-off.

Coach Declan Kidney is already without Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy while there are minor concerns over both Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe.