MUNSTER HAVE BEEN dealt a blow with the news that hooker Damien Varley will need surgery on his foot injury.
Varley met with a specialist in London earlier this week after the ongoing problem flared up on his return to action.
He will be out for “the immediate future” but Munster did not specify a timeline for his recovery.
The Irish international has been managing a plantar fasciosis injury in his left foot for the last 15 months.
He made his first appearance of the season with a half-hour run in the win over Leinster a fortnight ago.
“He subsequently reported symptoms of discomfort and pain and was referred to the specialist for further investigation,” Munster said.
With Mike Sherry already ruled out until the new year with a shoulder injury, head coach Anthony Foley will have to look further down the pecking order for a replacement hooker.
Foley said: “We are really disappointed for Varls. It’s an awkward injury and he has worked really hard in managing his game-time and rehab all along.
“Surgery is the next step now and we wish him all the best with it.
“We know it’s not ideal with Sherry and Varley out of action but we are fortunate to have Duncan [Casey], Eusebio [Guinazu] and Kevin [O'Byrne] available to us, and the news that Niall [Scannell] is back in the picture is a great boost for the squad.”
