Dublin - Irish No8 Jamie Heaslip has three fractured vertebrae and will miss at least four weeks including the potential Grand Slam decider between Six Nations champions Ireland and England in a fortnight it was announced by the IRFU on Monday.
The 31-year-old British and Irish Lions star suffered the injury after being kneed in the back by France lock Pascal Pape in Ireland's 18-11 victory over the French on Saturday.
"Scans have revealed fractures of the transverse process of three vertebrae in Jamie's back," read a statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union.