Ulster’s Ireland star Baloucoune out for three months

Ulster must navigate the latter stages of the season without breakout Six Nations wing Rob Baloucoune because of an elbow injury.

Baloucoune, who scored three tries in four Six Nations matches this year, sustained the injury in Ireland’s Triple Crown-sealing win over Scotland last weekend.

Ulster have confirmed the 28-year-old will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for around three months, ruling him out of the remaining United Rugby Championship’s regular-season games and next month’s Challenge Cup last-16 tie against the Ospreys.

Baloucoune was recalled to the Ireland squad after starring for Ulster in the first half of the season and marked his first cap since 2022 with a try-scoring display in the home win over Italy last month.

His displays attracted praise from Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and earned him the Six Nations ‘Rising Player’ award.

Farrell will hope Baloucoune recovers in time for the start of Ireland’s Nations Championship campaign, with fixtures against Australia, Japan and New Zealand in July.

Baloucoune’s injury is another blow for Ulster boss Richie Murphy, who is without several players for Friday’s URC game against Connacht.

Earlier this week, the province confirmed Cormac Izuchukwu, James Hume and Dave Shanahan will miss the inter-provincial fixture after sustaining concussions in last week’s win over Edinburgh.

Jude Postlethwaite, who was part of Ireland’s Six Nations squad, will be unavailable for several weeks after suffering a hand fracture, while versatile back Jake Flannery is nursing a shoulder issue.