Mike Haley and Roman Salanoa give Munster double injury blow

BKT United Rugby champions Munster have been hit with a double injury blow ahead of their first pre-season game of the new campaign.

The province have confirmed that full-back Mike Haley and tighthead prop Roman Salanoa have both been ruled out until at least January, after undergoing surgery this summer.

Haley has had an operation on a hip issue, while Salanoa has had surgery on a knee injury, with both players "not expected back until the new year", according to a statement from the province.

In better news, Andrew Conway and Jack Daly are both set to make their returns from long-term knee issues in this Friday's friendly with Leinster at Musgrave Park.

Conway missed the entire 2022/23 season with a recurring knee injury, while flanker Daly has been out since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in May 2022.

There was positive news on Paddy Patterson who is also rehabbing an ACL injury. The scrum-half is expected to return to team training in November, having had surgery in May.

Antoine Frisch and Joey Carbery are back in team training following low-grade injuries, and while the pair won't feature against Leinster this week, they are likely to be available for the next frienlt with Connacht in two weeks.

New signing Seán O'Brien is currently re-habbing a thigh injury, but the centre is expected to be fit for the opening rounds of the URC, which begins against the Sharks on Saturday 21 October.

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