McLaughlin injured his knee while playing for Leinster in the Magners League Grand Final on Saturday and will undergo further tests and exploratory surgery this week to ascertain the extent of the injury.

Ronan, who won the first of his two caps last year on the summer tour to Canada and the USA, has joined up with the rest of the squad in Limerick as they prepare for the first game of the tour against the Barbarians on Friday night in Thomond Park.