Doris needs shoulder operation & is doubt for Lions

Ireland captain Caelan Doris' availability for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia is in doubt as Leinster say he will have a "procedure" on a shoulder injury.

The 27-year-old has been touted as a potential Lions captain after taking over as Ireland skipper before last year's Autumn Nations Series.

Andy Farrell, who appointed Doris as Ireland captain, names his Lions squad on Thursday.

However, Leinster say the back row will have a shoulder procedure this week after being injured in their Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton Saints on Saturday.

Doris scored a try in Leinster's 37-34 defeat at Aviva Stadium but was forced off with a quarter of the match remaining.

"The full extent of the injury, and implications for the summer, won't be known until after the procedure," read a statement from Leinster, who have ruled Doris out of this weekend's United Rugby Championship game against Zebre.

The Lions take on Argentina in Dublin on 20 June before travelling to Australia. Farrell's side face the Wallabies in three Tests on 19 July (Brisbane), 26 July (Melbourne) and 2 August (Sydney).

This is a troubling development for Farrell, just 72 hours out from his first Lions squad announcement.

Doris did not make Warren Gatland's Lions squad in 2021 but everything has pointed towards him being a key figure under Farrell in Australia this summer.

Over the past 12 months he has taken on the Leinster and Ireland captaincies and is thought to be in direct competition with England skipper Maro Itoje for the Lions role.

But, just a couple of days after Leinster crashed out of the Champions Cup, his Lions participation has been thrown into doubt.

The severity of the injury will be crucial to his hopes, with the Lions travelling to Australia during the third week of June.

Earlier this season, Doris' Ireland and Leinster team-mate Dan Sheehan recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury inside six months to make the Six Nations.

Farrell will hope Doris' recovery goes as smoothly as that.