Tuesday 31 March 2015 19:27, UK
Ulster and Ireland centre Stuart Olding has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a knee injury which will keep him out of action for nine months.
Olding, 22, had only just returned after a spell on the sidelines through injury, and four minutes into Friday night’s PRO12 clash with Cardiff Blues he damaged his anterior cruciate ligaments.
An MRI scan on Tuesday confirmed he will need surgery and will be out for nine months.
Olding scored his first try for Ireland in last November’s international with Georgia and he had a chance of being selected in Joe Schmidt’s World Cup squad.
He has had terrible luck with injuries. He missed most of the 2013-14 season after rupturing his ACL.
He suffered an elbow injury against Toulon in January which meant he played no part in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.
