Sean O’Brien to miss Rugby World Cup with injury

Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with a hip injury.

The Ireland backrower will now miss the Rugby World Cup with Leinster confirming that he has suffered a hip injury that will require surgery. Leinster confirmed the news in a statement:

'O’Brien will undergo surgery in the next few weeks for a hip injury and as a result will be ruled out of action for up to six months.'

O'Brien will move to London Irish this summer to link back up with former Ireland head coach Declan Kidney. The Carlow native will join former Ireland teammate Paddy Jackson and former Leinster teammate Brendan Macken at the club and Kidney wished him a speedy recovery as he prepares for his first move in club rugby.

“We are disappointed for Sean that he is not in a position to compete for a place in the Ireland Rugby World Cup squad," Kidney said in a statement on the London Irish website. "We wish him a successful operation and a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him to London Irish for the next stage of his career.”

O'Brien announced his decision to join Irish in February and said that he wanted to challenge himself in a new environment.

“This is one of the hardest decisions that I have ever had to make. I have played all my rugby in Ireland. With Tullow, with Leinster and with Ireland and to move from the place I call home and that I love so much, was not easy. “That being said, I feel that the time has come to explore other opportunities, to challenge myself at a new environment, in a new city, with a new club and against different players and teams on a weekly basis.”