Injury could keep Tommy Bowe out for three months

IRISH PRIDE: Tommy Bowe celebrates the Lions' victory in the third Test in Sydney.

Ulster wing Tommy Bowe could miss the first three months of the season due to the wrist injury he sustained on duty with the British and Irish Lions in Australia.

Bowe is having exploratory surgery today to determine the extent of the injury, with Ulster confirming he has sustained ligament damage to the same wrist he broke on tour in Australia.

Bowe's recovery from the injury he sustained against the Queensland Reds was hailed as miraculous after he returned for the Second Test against the Wallabies but it is feared there may be some underlying damage done.

Bowe was scheduled to return in a Pro12 match against Ospreys on 4 October but if the ligaments are damaged he could be out for 12 weeks.

He was expected to miss the early rounds of the Pro12 but further complications to his wrist injury means he is now in danger of being ruled out of the Heineken Cup pool matches against Leicester Tigers and Montpellier in October and could be a doubt for Ireland's November internationals.