Irish and Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris received his first career knockback this week when he was forced to undergo a minor operation on his hand, following Ulster's 6-6 draw with Leinster in the Magners Celtic League last weekend.
Drafted into Eddie O'Sullivan's squad for the recent series of autumn internationals, the 21-year-old played his first Irish game against the Pacific Islands, having lined out for Ulster just last February in his debut senior provincial game.
The Dungannon player had surgery to repair ligament damage to an injured hand and is expected to be out of the game for between four to six weeks, ensuring he will miss Ulster's back-to-back Heineken European Cup matches against London Irish over the next two weekends. He will also sit out Ulster's final game of 2006 against Leinster, which brings the curtain down on Lansdowne Road on New Year's Eve before the stadium is demolished and redeveloped.
Former Irish flanker, Kieron Dawson, is expected to replace Ferris and play against his former club with Neil McMillan coming onto the bench.
The good news for Ulster coach Mark McCall and his side, is that both Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble were training this week with the squad and both are expected to be in contention for selection when the team to face The Exiles is announced today.
Winger Bowe, who was not part of the Irish Test match squads last month because of a hamstring injury, has been a long-term casualty, while Trimble hobbled off in Ireland's match against South Africa, also with hamstring problems.
Another plus from the Ulster viewpoint is that French flanker, Oliver Magne will be an absentee for London Irish after he was handed a two-match ban for stamping. The Frenchman was found guilty by a Rugby Football Union Disciplinary Committee of stamping on Northampton's, Dylan Hartley. The ban dates back to November 29th, when Magne was initially suspended by his club. It does mean, however, that the flanker will be available to face Ulster in the return game at Ravenhill on December 15th.
One of McCall's tough decisions is whether he will stick with the ever-reliable Bryn Cunningham at fullback or bring in Mark Bartholomeusz. If he chooses the South African and also goes with Bowe and Trimble, Ulster could, for the first time in the European Cup, line out with a team of 15 international players.
In Leinster Michael Cheika will today announce the signing of Stan Wright as the ERC deadline for wild card picks closes at midday. Wright, who is an 18-stone Cook Islands international but has no Super 14 experience, is likely to be named in an extended squad as tight head prop Fosi Pala'amo struggles with injury to an injured ankle. Pala'amo is a doubtful starter.
Wright has been training with Leinster during the week so Cheika has had some time to see how he holds up.
Another possibility is that South African Harry Vermass or Ronan McCormack could play at three with Reggie Corrigan lining out on the other side and Brian Blaney between. Other injury worries in the Leinster camp are not so serious, including Girvan Dempsey, who is expected to be named.
Munster still wait on injury reports on Barry Murphy, David Wallace, Federico Pucciarello and John Kelly ahead of their Pool Four fixture away to Cardiff on Sunday.
All three European Cup squads are due to be named today.
•Connacht have moved quickly to secure the services of flanker Ray Ofisa for the next few seasons. The Samoan has signed a two-year extension to his contract just a couple of months after arriving in Ireland.
