Wallace will be out for six months

RUGBY: DAVID WALLACE faces a six-month absence from the game following surgery on a knee injury sustained in Ireland's 20-9 defeat to England in their final warm-up match prior to their departure for the World Cup in New Zealand.

The 35-year-old Garryowen, Munster, Ireland and Lions flanker had an operation in Dublin on Sunday. The incident happened during last Saturday’s game against England when his studs appeared to catch in the turf at the same moment as he was hit by a tackle from England centre Manu Tuilagi.

It is a terrible blow for Ireland as Wallace, playing his first game of the season, looked in prime nick and would have been an important player for the national team during the World Cup. A brilliant ball carrier, his athletic presence will be missed.

His equally unfortunate Munster and Ireland international colleague Felix Jones also faces a lengthy spell in rehab following the ankle injury he suffered in the second game against the French.

The 24-year-old is due to see a specialist next week when a clearer indication of how long his recovery will take will emerge.

Meanwhile, Tomás O’Leary and John Hayes, who resumed training this week with Munster, are included in their 28-strong squad for the province’s RaboDirect Pro12 opening game against Newport Gwent Dragons in Musgrave Park on Saturday (7.45pm).

The squad train today in Cork and coach Tony McGahan will announce the team on Friday at lunchtime. James Coughlan also returns to the squad having missed last weekend’s game against London Irish with an eye injury and Johne Murphy is also included. He strained a hamstring playing for the Ireland XV against Connacht.

Meanwhile, Dragons new signings Tom Brown, Rhys Buckley, Nathan Williams and Joe Bedford are set to make their Dragons debuts in Cork. Scrumhalf Wayne Evans returns from a shoulder injury picked up in the pre-season friendly against Russia, while Martyn Thomas is in contention after recovering from the second of two broken legs which have kept him out of league action for several months. Lewis Evans (calf) and Jamie Smith (back) are being rested for the match.

MUNSTER SQUAD: S Scanlon, J Murphy, D Howlett, D Hurley, S Zebo, L Mafi, D Barnes, S Deasy, I Keatley, D Williams, P Stringer, T O’Leary, M Horan, W du Preez, D Varley, M Sherry, S Archer, J Hayes, P Borlase, D Foley, M O’Driscoll, I Nagle, B Holland, David O’Callaghan, P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell, N Ronan, J Coughlan.

DRAGONS SQUAD: M Thomas, S Jones, A Hughes, M Poole, P Leach, T Riley, A Smith, J Tovey, W Evans, J Bedford, P Price, T Willis (capt), R Buckley, N Williams, D Way, B Castle, A Jones, J Groves, R Sidoli, A Coombs, G Thomas, H Ellis, T Brown.