Mike Ross rated ‘unlikely’ for Six Nations

Mike Ross is “unlikely” to be fit in time for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Wales next month, according to Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.

The tighthead prop, so crucial to his club and country’s causes since being repatriated from Harlequins in 2009, has not played since suffering a high-grade hamstring tear against Toulon at the Aviva Stadium in December.

Leinster made positive soundings about his rehabilitation at the start of the month, but Cullen painted an altogether bleaker picture yesterday ahead of today’s Champions Cup game — for them — against a Bath side still with an outside shot of making the last eight.