Furlong out of Ireland’s England Six Nations opener

Tadhg Furlong, a member of the British and Irish Lions, will miss Saturday’s Six Nations opener against England because of injury.

Furlong, 32, suffered a recurrence of a calf injury at Ireland’s training camp in Portugal on Saturday and has returned to Dublin for further assessment.

Connacht’s Jack Aungier has been called up to the Six Nations holders ‘ squad as a replacement.

The seasoned tighthead prop had a hamstring problem that prevented him from playing for Ireland’s final four November internationals, so he only returned for Leinster in their victory over La Rochelle three weeks later before missing the province’s final European game against Bath.

Furlong’s absence means Finlay Bealham is likely to start against England at the Aviva Stadium but Ireland’s usual third-choice in the position, Tom O’Toole, is suspended for the first two games of the championship.

After returning from injury to play in Leinster’s United Rugby Championship victory over the Stormers on Saturday, hooker Dan Sheehan and wing James Lowe made a connection with the Ireland squad on Sunday.

Lowe has been ruled out since picking up a calf injury in Ireland’s final international against Australia in November, while Sheehan made his first appearance of the season after suffering a knee injury during their summer tour of South Africa.