Ireland Rugby: Captain Callan Dorries ruled out of summer Tests

Ireland captain Callan Dorries will miss July’s Nations Championship matches against Australia, Japan and New Zealand with a foot injury.

Back-row Dorries was forced into the early stages of Leinster’s United Rugby Championship final win over the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday.

Leinster wing Tommy O’Brien has also missed three summer matches with a groin injury.

Ulster pair Bryn and Jack Ward have been called up to replace the injured duo, while hooker Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland in Dorries’ absence.

Andy Farrell’s team flew to Sydney on Monday ahead of their Nations Championship opener against Australia on July 4.

Ireland then face Japan on July 11 and New Zealand at Eden Park next week in other summer fixtures.

Losing both Dorris and O’Brien is a blow for Farrell, who is without fly-half Jack Crowley and key prop Andrew Porter.

Dorries limped off in the seventh minute of the game but returned to lift the URC trophy and join his teammates in celebration at full-time.

Speaking after the game, he said he would get the injury “checked out” but that it was serious enough to rule him out of three summer matches.

O’Brien, who scored his first try in Leinster’s Investec Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux, had another impressive campaign but was forced off with a groin problem against the Bulls.

The Ward brothers have been rewarded for an impressive campaign with Ulster, who now have 10 players in the Ireland squad after a much improved campaign.

Wing Jack, 27, previously played for Ireland in Rugby Sevens and featured in four Emerging Ireland and Ireland ‘A’ fixtures.

Back-row Bryn, 21, had a breakthrough season with Ulster as Richie Murphy’s side reached the Challenge Cup final and was a training panellist for the Six Nations.