Henry suffers temporary blockage of small blood vessel in brain

Ireland and Ulster flanker Chris Henry will undergo further specialist neurological assessment to determine why he suffered what has been confirmed "as a temporary blockage of a small blood vessel in his brain," that forced him to withdraw on the morning of the Test match against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday week.

Serious illness

There were rumours that he had suffered a serious illness but the original prognosis was that he was struck down by a viral infection and the diagnosis was then commuted to a severe migraine. However, the IRFU confirmed in a statement that Henry requires more medical intervention to ascertain the full extent of the problem.

It read: “Chris Henry suffered some weakness on the morning of the South Africa game and a viral illness was suspected, he recovered quickly and the initial diagnosis was of severe migraine. Further tests however have shown he suffered a temporary blockage of a small blood vessel in his brain. He is at home now and is well but needs further investigation and specialist opinion.”

The player may have suffered what is known as a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), which is caused by a tiny blood clot that becomes stuck in a small blood vessel (artery) in the brain. This blocks the blood flow, and a part of the brain is starved of oxygen. The affected part of the brain is without oxygen for just a few minutes, and soon recovers.

The 30-year-old flanker, who was due to win his 17th cap against the Springboks, will undergo further tests that will probably include a CAT or MRI scan or both.

Irish rugby has known the two sides of serious medical issues in relatively recent times. Ireland and Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss made a full recovery after he was discovered to have a hole in the heart that required surgery following routine medical tests in 2013.

The flip side centres on Simon Best, the Ulster and Ireland prop and older brother of Irish hooker Rory, who collapsed while walking down the street in Bordeaux at the 2007 World Cup in France, with a heart complaint that eventually saw him retire from rugby several months later. Thankfully it didn't subsequently stop him from taking on a coaching role with the Banbridge club.

In other medical news from the Ireland camp, Mike McCarthy suffered symptoms after the victory over Georgia that are consistent with a concussion and he will follow the return-to-play protocols that would see him missing out on Saturday’s Test match against Australia.

McCarthy came on as a replacement against South Africa before starting the match against Georgia.

Foot injury

Centre

Jared Payne

was due to have a run out with the medical team to ascertain the extent of his progress from a foot injury sustained against South Africa while hooker

Rory Best

, who missed that match and the win over Georgia, is available for selection against the Wallabies.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will announce his team and replacements on Thursday lunch-time, the same day that his Australian counterpart Michael Cheika will reciprocate with the Wallaby line-up.