It has been reported in today's Irish Examiner that Paul O'Connell will be out of action for 10 weeks after it was diagnosed that he had broken a bone in his hand in the course of Munster's Celtic League game against Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park last Friday night.

O'Connell left the field clutching an ice pack to his right wrist and it was subsequently found that he had suffered a break.

It means he will definitely miss Munster's Heineken Cup games against Sale Sharks, Castres and the away December game against Gwent Dragons with an obvious doubt hanging over his availability for the return a wek later.