Six Nations: Hugo Keenan fractured his thumb while training for Ireland

Full-back Hugo Keenan has returned home from Ireland’s Six Nations training camp in Portugal after suffering a broken thumb.

Keenan, who has established himself as Ireland’s first-choice full-back over the past few seasons, was expected to return during the tournament from a groin injury that has kept him on the sidelines since the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia in the summer.

Ireland are currently in Portugal preparing for their opening Six Nations match against France in Paris on February 5 before facing Italy at the Aviva Stadium on February 14.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell is yet to name a replacement for the 29-year-old Leinster player, who has won 46 caps for Ireland and scored 13 tries.

When Keenan missed the fall series in November, Jimmy Osborne and Mack Hansen started two games each.

Osborne has not played since the match against Japan that month due to a shoulder injury, but was selected by Farrell in the initial squad announcement last week, while Hansen is currently sidelined with a foot problem.

Jacob Stockdale and Ciaran Frawley have played 15 times for Ulster and Leinster respectively this season, while there is also the option of deploying one of the team’s three halves, most likely Sam Prendergast or Jack Crawley, in the position.

News of Keenan’s injury comes on the heels of the announcement that Bondi Ake will not travel to training camp after a “disciplinary issue”.

Aki faces an independent disciplinary hearing on Wednesday.

The latest setback for Keenan is his third injury problem since Farrell named a 37-man squad for the Six Nations on January 21 with Jack Boyle and Tom Ahern also withdrawing.

Ulster duo Cormac Izchukwu and Jude Postlethwaite and Connacht support Billy Bohan have been added to the panel.