Leo Cullen will undergo an Achilles operation © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: James Coughlan | Leo Cullen

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: Ireland | Leinster | Munster

Leinster second-row Leo Cullen is likely to miss the majority of the 2012 Six Nations after the Irish management decided that he would undergo an operation, according to reports.

The 34-year-old lock has been struggling with an Achilles injury and despite hoping to play through the pain barrier, he now looks set to undergo the surgeon's knife. Cullen has been given a projected six to eight week recovery time.

If he recovers on the earlier side then he could make a return in the second week of March and would hope to make Ireland's trip to Twickenham to face England on March 17. In Cullen's place, Munster back-row James Coughlan has been called up for their training camp in Limerick.

Ireland Training Squad:

Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Tom Court (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), James Coughlan (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster)

Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster)

Additional players: Fionn Carr (Leinster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Ian Nagle (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Connacht)