Surgery for Wright

Cook Islander and Leinster Irish rugby club prop Stanley Wright (pictured) will undergo surgery this week for a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Wright suffered the injury during the second half of last weekend’s defeat to London Wasps. The versatile Cook Islands front rower is expected to be out for at least six months and will miss all of the provinces Heineken Cup pool matches and a large chunk of the Magners League campaign.

His fellow prop Mike Ross is also unavailable for the Leicester game due to a strained calf.

Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt confirmed at the Magners League launch in Cardiff on Tuesday morning that the province is in the market for a replacement prop.

Kevin McLaughlin (knee-shoulder) and Leo Cullen (shoulder) remain long-term injuries, while Shaun Berne (Achilles) is also unavailable at present.

It is hoped that Scotland and Lions forward Nathan Hines will be in contention for selection this week.