Double blow for Six Nations champs

The 31-year-old Ulster player had hoped to return early in 2016 after sustaining a knee injury during Ireland's World Cup quarterfinal loss to Argentina.

Bowe, capped 67 times by his country, expects to return for Ulster later this season, but it is less good news for club mate and fellow Ireland international Iain Henderson.

The lock is believed to be a doubt even for Ireland's mid-year tour to South Africa, after tearing a hamstring on club duty against Edinburgh.

Ireland begin the defence of their Six Nations crown against Wales in Dublin and Bowe is gutted to miss the entire Championship.

"Unfortunately it's a slow process and to rule yourself out of the Six Nations is disappointing," said Bowe.

"I have to concentrate on getting myself back to where I was and there's no point in rushing it.

"To be back by the start of February is unlikely, but I'm still pretty positive I can add something to Ulster's season."

Elsewhere in Ireland a lot of focus is on who will take over the team captaincy following the retirement of Paul O'Connell.

And former head coach Eddie O'Sullivan – speaking on Off The Ball on Newstalk – believes Rory Best is the right man for the job.

"Rory Best looks to me like the guy to me that would be most likely to receive the captain's armband going forward," O'Sullivan said.

"Now, he is 33 years of age, so the question is, will he be the Irish hooker in four years time for the World Cup? That's debatable," he added.

"But I can see him being in situ until the next captain is groomed because you do need that stability now going into a new cycle and you will have new players coming into the squad.

"His experience – and he's an exceptional guy – he's an extraordinarily talented rugby player and he's a fantastic leader. He's always been captain material. So that takes pressure of the future captains on the basis that they're learning their trade around."

Source: @rbs_6_nations