Earls signs new deal but injury puts Six Nations in doubt

Keith Earls became the latest frontline Ireland player to sign a new IRFU contract, but will face an anxious wait to see whether he will play any part in the upcoming RBS 6 Nations.

Earls, 26, yesterday followed Munster and Ireland team-mate Paul O’Connell in signing a new two-year central contract that will see him remain with his home province until June 2016.

Irish skipper O’Connell’s decision to put pen to paper on another IRFU deal was made public on Monday, while Leinster back-row Sean O’Brien committed his immediate future to Irish rugby last week with a similar deal.