Bleyendaal injury vexes Foley

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is anxiously waiting on medical reports from Canterbury as to the seriousness of new signing Tyler Bleyendaal’s neck injury.

The 24-year-old inside centre and fly-half, a former New Zealand U20 captain, had been due to arrive in Ireland at the end of his province’s ITM Cup campaign next month, having signed a three-year contract with Munster last May.

Reports from New Zealand, though, suggest Bleyendaal has suffered a prolapsed disc in his neck that will require surgery, leaving Foley’s plans for a strong option at No 12 and cover at out-half for Ian Keatley and JJ Hanrahan somewhat in doubt.