Cian Prendergast replaces Tom Ahern in Ireland training squad

The Munster man was taken off during the Champions Cup defeat to Northampton Saints last weekend having been caught twice in the head by the knee of Curtis Langdon.

Cian Prendergast has earned a call-up to Andy Farrell's squad. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Munster's Tom Ahern has been replaced by Connacht’s Cian Prendergast in the Ireland squad that will travel to Portugal for a pre-Six Nations training camp later this week.

Named as a development player in Andy Farrell’s latest collective for the 2024 Championship, Ahern was taken off during his province’s Heineken Champions Cup defeat to Northampton Saints last weekend having been caught twice in the head by the knee of Curtis Langdon.

The prop was sent off for his actions while Ahern spent the night in hospital under observation and the incident has now cost him his place in the senior Ireland group which had been earned in the back of some superb displays in the second and back rows.

He will now continue his rehabilitation with Munster while Prendergast gets the chance to impress having lost out narrowly on a place in the World Cup squad last year.