The Tipperary man will undergo the surgery next Monday. Leamy had been troubled by the injury for past while and examination after the end of the tour to New Zealand and Australia confirmed the need for the surgery.

With Anthony Foley retiring Munster had always stated they would be in the market for a back-row player, should the right person become available, and now the impending absence of Leamy makes the search that little bit more pressing although it also gives the likes of James Coughlan, John O'Sullivan, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan and development contracted players such as Billy Holland and Mark Melbourne the opportunity to stake their claim.

 

Munster Squad 2008/2009

Federico Pucciariello, Tony Buckley, Darragh Hurley, John Hayes, Marcus Horan, Timmy Ryan (D), Denis Fogarty, Frank Sheahan, Jerry Flannery,  Michael Essex (D), Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mark Melbourne (D), Denis Leamy, David Wallace, James Coughlan, Billy Holland (D), John O'Sullivan, Niall Ronan, Alan Quinlan, Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Mike Prendergast, Duncan Williams (D), Jeremy Manning, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Anthony Horgan, Rua Tipoki, Ian Dowling, Barry Murphy, Tom Gleeson (D), Kieran Lewis, Brian Carney, Lifeimi Mafi, Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Ciaran O'Boyle, Denis Hurley.

(D) = Development contract.