Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley will not return from injury until next year, his province Munster confirmed this week.
Crowley has been sidelined since April with a lower limb vascular injury, according to BBC Sport. The 26-year-old missed Ireland's Nations Championship matches against Australia, Japan and New Zealand last month and will now also sit out the second block of fixtures in November against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa.
"Jack Crowley is a very important player for Munster and Ireland with a big future in the game and ensuring he gets back to 100% is the priority," said Munster head coach Clayton McMillan.
Crowley made his Ireland debut in 2022 and has earned 35 caps. He played every minute of Ireland's 2024 Six Nations title-winning campaign. This year, Sam Prendergast started the first two Six Nations games, but Crowley reclaimed the starting position at number 10 and led Ireland to wins over England, Wales and Scotland to claim the Triple Crown.
The timing creates real pressure for Munster, who open their 2026-27 United Rugby Championship campaign at home to Glasgow on September 26. The squad is currently in France for a pre-season game against La Rochelle on Friday.
Crowley's absence alone would have been a significant problem. McMillan then confirmed that new signing Will Harrison suffered a re-aggravation of a knee injury, further thinning the options at fly-half.
"Will Harrison's injury is a frustrating one for him because he has come into a new environment and made an immediate impression, but the re-aggravation is a setback and we want to make sure he's in the best possible condition before he takes the field," McMillan said.
McMillan said the province still has options. "We have a good mix of experience and youth available in the out-half position with JJ Hanrahan and academy men Tom Wood and Charlie O'Shea," he said.
Munster also confirmed that Ireland internationals Edwin Edogbo and Tom Farrell, both recovering from shoulder surgeries, along with Calvin Nash, who had hamstring surgery, are expected to return during the early rounds of the new season.
