Connacht outhalf Nikora out for five months

Connacht coach Pat Lam has confirmed today that outhalf Miah Nikora will miss the next five months with injury.

He needs surgery this week on a shoulder injury he picked up in training after the pre-season friendly over London Wasps.

Meanwhile, arising out of the Pro 12 loss to Cardiff Blues on Friday night, Lam has no main concerns and his players escaped with minor bumps and bruises.

Denis Buckley returned to squad training but only on a non-contact basis as he is coming back to full fitness from a shoulder injury.

New signing Craig Clarke is returning from a calf injury.

The squad trained today ahead of their Pro 12 inter-pro clash with Ulster on Saturday at the Sportsground.

On Nikora, Lam said: “It’s clearly a big loss – We don’t have someone of his experience playing alongside Dan (Parks) but that’s just the nature of the game and just got to move on and the next guys will get their opportunity, there are a couple coming in and we can only do with what we have.”

Connacht begin their third Heineken Cup journey next month and all last week there was conflicting statements from the ERC and English and French club representatives.

Premiership Rugby put out a statement early on to say they were definitely out, followed by a statement from ERC to say they’re still in.

Premiership Rugby then confirmed that they were 100% out, with the ERC saying both sides of the argument would go into mediation talks.

The Connacht coach has admitted that there would be detrimental circumstances if there was no competition next year.

“I think for rugby in the northern hemisphere its crucial, there is only one major competition this side of the world and it’s the Heineken Cup so the sooner this is resolved the better – I think there will be detrimental effects if it’s not resolved,” he said.

“For players and coaches it’s the panicle at club level and again I hope they get it sorted soon.”

Dan Parks, who has played in Scotland and Wales before coming to the West of Ireland, also warned of the implications of losing the Heineken Cup.

He said: “My time in Glasgow, it was something everyone from players, to coaches to fans looked forward to and then when I went to Cardiff it was something they worked extremely hard to make sure that it was something they were involved in and players were judged by their performances in the competition so it’s very big there.”

“I feel very fortunate to be part of the Connacht set-up in the Heineken Cup, really enjoyed last season, it was amazing and everyone loved it so we hope to keep ourselves there.”