IN WHAT IS a major blow for Ireland’s Six Nations hopes, Geordan Murphy will not play again this season.

The Leicester Tigers skipper broke two bones in his foot in the Aviva Premiership win over Northampton on Saturday.

“Effectively, my chances of playing in the Six Nations this year are gone,” he said, after it was confirmed that the injury was more serious than initially thought by Tigers medical staff.

It’s very frustrating really. It’s the nature of the game, though, nothing can be done. You have to just get on with it, really.

It’s very annoying. I just have to try and get back as quickly as possible.”

Murphy had his bone relocated on Wednesday and will undergo an operation next week.

With Rob Kearney likely to miss the Six Nations opener against Italy, Murphy had been favourite to start the full-back berth, but Ireland coach Declan Kidney is now likely to hand the role to Luke Fitzgerald, who is not long back from injury himself.

The Kildare man had seen a specialist earlier in the week and Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill had hoped the diagnosis would be kind.

“He certainly won’t be fit for this weekend but fingers crossed it won’t be too serious. It’s really disappointing for Geordan; he was coming in to some good form,” Cockerill said.