Ulster's Neil Doak needed surgery on a shoulder injury

Ulster scrum-half Neil Doak's hopes of being in the Ireland squad for this year's World Cup have received a huge setback.

Doak is set to spend the next six months on the sidelines after undergoing a shoulder operation.

The 30-year-old sustained the injury while playing for Ireland 'A' against France at Ravenhill.

Doak is likely to miss the start of Ulster's Celtic League campaign.

And he faces a race against time to get back to match fitness before the Irish choose their World Cup panel.