Sean O'Brien out for Six Nations

Sean O'Brien will likely miss Ireland's Six Nations campaign with a shoulder injury picked up over the weekend.

The province have confirmed that O’Brien will need surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

He was taken off on Saturday in Leinster’s Pro 12 win over Ulster at the RDS with the injury. At the time management seemed confident that the injury was not severe, but it now seems O'Brien is facing two months out of action.

Confirming the news today, forwards coach Jonno Gibbes said, “He’s going to have to have a surgical repair on that shoulder and the timeframe for that has moved outside the six week mark.”

“The time frame has not been set in stone but it’s significant enough for surgical intervention which means six to eight weeks minimum.”

O’Brien has not had a consistent run of matches and his appearance against Ulster in the RDS was a first in weeks, after he missed both the Heineken Cup loss to Northampton at the Aviva and the Pro 12 loss to Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

Although Leinster say they will be keeping an eye on him over the recovery process, they will now be planning without such a huge part of the Leinster squad.

Gibbes said, “I don’t think Ireland or ourselves will put a definite line in the sand about ruling Sean out of the Six Nations, they will see how it goes but right now it seems like he’s gone.”

“Of course a guy like him it’s nice to have in your team but it’s now an opportunity for other guys and that’s what we have tried to get going in the last few years. Injuries happen and people stand in to take their place and the same standards will be expected of them.”

In much better news for the Pro 12 Champions, it appears Jamie Heaslip has not signed with any other club.

It was reported yesterday that the number eight had signed a lucrative deal at Heineken Cup Champions Toulon.

The unconfirmed reports came after it was suggested that talks between the IRFU and Heaslip broke down, allowing the French Top 14 side to swoop in.

Jonno Gibbes says that as far as Leinster are concerned, that is far from the truth.

“All the rumours about him being signed up is not true, as far as Leinster are concerned, Jamie is still a Leinster player.”

“He’s still going through the contract negotiations about staying and playing in Ireland, that remains open and he hasn’t signed for anyone so we are hopeful that he will stay here.”

It would seem that Heaslip will go into the 6 Nations in his final year currently under contract with the IRFU still not knowing where his future lies. Leinster’s forward coach admits it’s very frustrating.

“I’m sure the player wants to know what he’s doing. From Leinster’s point of view it is frustrating, national contracts always have a date for when they are going to end and leaving them up to the Six Nations still taking about it in his last year, I just think it would be much better if it could be sorted out earlier.”