Tom Wood injury leaves Munster with a severe shortage at outhalf

Munster academy outhalf Tom Wood will undergo surgery on his shoulder this week and has been ruled out until the new year. His head coach Clayton McMillan had last week expressed the hope that the 20-year-old would be in the mix for this Saturday’s opening URC game against Glasgow at Thomond Park (kick-off 5.30pm) but the prognosis has proved worse than feared.

This latest development compounds Munster’s injury crisis at outhalf given the long-term absence of Jack Crowley until at least Christmas as well due to a rare lower limb vascular injury.