Munster's Cullen needs shoulder op

Former All Black star Christian Cullen will have have to put his Munster debut on hold after discovering he requires shoulder surgery.

Cullen, controversially omitted from New Zealand’s World Cup squad, sustained the injury while on NPC duty for Wellington Lions and has an operation on Wednesday.

“Christian will have a minor shoulder operation on Wednesday,” said Munster coach Alan Gaffney.

“At the moment we cannot set a time on his likely recovery. We are hoping it wont be too long, but we accept that it could take him out of the early rounds of the Heineken Cup.”