Cruciate injury rules hooker Sherry out for six months

Damien Varley will take over Munster’s number two shirt for the foreseeable future after the province confirmed yesterday that Mike Sherry will miss the next six months due to a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee.

“The hooker will undergo surgery once the swelling goes down on the injury sustained against Newport Gwent Dragons last weekend,” a Munster spokesperson said last night.

Garryowen clubmates Sherry and Varley had been battling for the hooker’s position since the start of the season.

Sherry, 25, has been heralded within the province as a potential Ireland hooker. Varley, 30, came relatively late to the provincial scene, having played club rugby for a number of years and turning professional at London Wasps before joining Munster in 2006.

Sherry’s injury also opens up the battle for the reserve spot between Duncan Casey (23) and Niall Scannell (21). Both have yet to make their Munster bow, but Casey has been named on the bench for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against Perpignan.

There is better news concerning Gerhard van den Heever, who picked up a hand injury in the Dragons game. Scans yesterday showed the South African is expected to return to training over Christmas.

Meanwhile Ireland’s schedule for next year’s Autumn international series has been announced. Joe Schmidt’s side will host South Africa on November 8, a tier two nation (likely to be Georgia) on November 15 and Australia on Nov 22.

Saturday, November 8: Ireland v South Africa, Aviva Stadium.

Saturday, November 15: Ireland v Tier 2 nation (Georgia TBC), Aviva Stadium.

Saturday, November 22: Ireland v Australia, Aviva Stadium.