Cian Prendergast replaces Tom Ahern in Ireland training squad

Tom Ahern has been ruled out of Ireland's Guinness Six Nations training camp in Portugal, with Cian Prendergast replacing the Munster man in the traveling party.

Ahern suffered a head injury late in the first half of the province's 26-23 Champions Cup defeat to the Northampton Saints on Saturday, which saw Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon red-carded for dangerous play..

The versatile forward spent Saturday night in hospital where he was treated for a head injury, and will now follow the return to play protocols with the province's medical team.

Ahern, who has scored six tries for Munster this season, had been included as one of three 'training panelists' in addition to the main 34-man squad named by head coach Andy Farrell last week, will now be replaced by Connacht's Cian Prendergast in the camp.

Cian's brother Sam Prendergast and Munster's Oli Jager are the other 'training panelists' who will link up with the senior squad for the first time.

The Ireland squad gathered in Dublin on Monday to begin preparations for their Grand Slam defence, and will fly out to Portugal tomorrow for a week-long training camp.

Farrell's side will then move on to Marseille on Wednesday 31 January, ahead of their championship opener against France on Friday 2 February.

Follow every Ireland game in the Guinness Six Nations on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.

Watch live coverage of Ireland v Wales (24 February) and England v Ireland (9 March) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.