Johnny Sexton has had an operation on his cheekbone and is a serious doubt for Ireland's 2023 Six Nations campaign.
Sexton, 37, suffered the injury when he was involved in a head on head collision with Connacht's Jarrad Butler in last Sunday's URC victory for the Blues at the RDS.
It was his first start for the province since the win over Munster on October 22, and the Leinster and Ireland skipper and out-half only played in one of the November internationals due to injury.
