Tadhg Furlong Ruled Out of Six Nations Opener Against England Due to Injury

January 27, 2025 – Ireland’s preparations for the upcoming Six Nations tournament have suffered a significant blow as prop Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of their opening match against England due to a calf injury.

The 32-year-old Leinster tighthead sustained a recurrence of the injury during training in Portugal and has since returned to Dublin for further assessment.

Furlong’s injury marks yet another setback in what has been a challenging period for the experienced player.

He missed all four of Ireland’s fixtures during the November international series due to a hamstring issue and had only recently returned to action for Leinster in their victory over La Rochelle three weeks ago. His absence is expected to impact Ireland’s strategy as they aim to defend their Six Nations title.

In light of Furlong’s injury, Jack Aungier, an uncapped front-rower from Connacht, has been called up to join the Ireland squad.

Aungier, who previously played alongside Furlong at Leinster before moving to Connacht, is set to provide depth in the front row. Finlay Bealham is likely to start in the No. 3 jersey against England at the Aviva Stadium on February 1.

Simon Easterby will serve as the stand-in head coach for Ireland during this Six Nations, with head coach Andy Farrell currently on secondment with the British & Irish Lions.

Easterby received positive news regarding other key players, as hooker Dan Sheehan made a successful return from an ACL injury and performed impressively in his latest outing.

Ireland enters the Six Nations as two-time defending champions, but they will be seeking revenge against England after losing a closely contested match at Twickenham last year.

The absence of Furlong adds pressure on the team as they prepare for what promises to be a challenging opener against their rivals.

As the countdown to the tournament continues, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Ireland adapts without one of their key players in such a critical fixture.