NIALL Ronan will be sidelined for the rest of the season after an MRI scan confirmed he had suffered cruciate damage to his left knee.

Ronan sustained the injury after 14 minutes of Munster’s 26-10 Heineken Cup victory over Castres Olympique last Saturday.

The unfortunate Munster flanker had already been ruled out of this Saturday’s game against Northampton Saints but further medical investigation ascertained cruciate damage.

He will have surgery on February 3rd.

– John O’Sullivan