Ireland back row Ryan Baird expected to miss 2026 Six Nations - played on with fractured leg against Springboks

Baird has been one of Ireland’s most reliable performers this month, playing every available minute in wins over Japan, Australia and the Chicago defeat against New Zealand. His powerful carry and third international try against the Wallabies wrapped up what had looked like a breakthrough November.

But that momentum came to a shuddering halt in Dublin, as upon his unlucky 13th Ireland cap, the 26-year-old fractured his tibia during a brutal second half. Somehow, Baird battled through the pain until the hour mark before being replaced by fellow Leinster forward Jack Conan.

Head coach Andy Farrell confirmed the severity post-match, telling the media at the Aviva Stadium: “Ryan Baird, I believe, has fractured his tibia. He tried to carry on within all that as well, so some courage being shown there.”

Leinster Rugby have estimated an absence of up to three months, howver, the provinces' head coach Leo Cullen suggested a best-case return of around eight weeks. With the 2026 Six Nations looming, his availability now hangs in the balance for Andy Farrell's side.

If Ireland needed more bad news, they received it when Mack Hansen hobbled off just a week after lighting up the Aviva with a sensational hat-trick against Australia from full-back. The Connacht star – who missed the New Zealand and Japan Tests earlier this month – suffered a recurrence of the same foot injury that disrupted both his club season and his British & Irish Lions tour.

Farrell could offer only uncertainty in the post-match report: “Mack has injured his foot again, so that’s a little bit ongoing. We’ll see how that turns up tomorrow (Sunday).”

Leinster’s medical report offered little comfort. following a bruising defeat to the back-to-back world champion Springboks. Tommy O’Brien (head) and Robbie Henshaw (hamstring) are out of this week’s URC clash with the Dragons at Rodney Parade, with Henshaw previously unavailable for the South Africa Test. Jamie Osborne faces up to four months out with a shoulder injury, and promising back row James Culhane (knee) and flanker Will Connors (arm) are also sidelined.

Joe McCarthy, however, has entered final rehab stages following a complex foot injury and could return shortly.

Beyond the injuries, Ireland’s lack of composure cost them dearly. James Ryan’s 20-minute red card for a reckless clearout on Malcolm Marx, not only left Ireland undermanned but also chalked off what would have been a vital Tadhg Beirne score. Yellow cards followed for Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy as Ireland’s resistance frayed.

Farrell revealed Ryan was inconsolable afterwards, saying: “James is gutted, he’s upset in there. He apologised to the group. There were other things that went on within the game as well that we need to address. It’s not just one man’s doing by far. We’re all in this together.”

With Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action looming and provincial squads already stretched, Ireland’s punishing finale against the Springboks may cast a long shadow. Both Connacht and Leinster now face critical early-winter fixtures without some of their most dynamic internationals available for selection at he provinces.