There were guffaws from the south of Ireland when Northampton's teamsheet for their Premiership opener surfaced online last Saturday.
Not only did Currow man JJ Hanrahan not start the Saints' 18-14 defeat to Bath, but he didn't even make the bench. Many suggested Hanrahan was simply out of favour, but the truth may be worse for the 24-year-old.
However, Peter O'Reilly of the Sunday Times now reports that the former Rockwell and Munster fly-half has fractured his fibula - the leg bone on the lateral side of the larger tibia.
Wishing @JjHanrahan speedy recovery from cracked fibula. 12-week rehab. Can still make @SaintsRugby @ChampionsCup double header v Leinster
— Peter O'Reilly (@petersuntimes) September 8, 2016
The healing time for a fibula break is just six weeks, but it can take twice as long, or more, for the damaged ligaments and tendons to follow suit.
Amidst the BRING JJ HOME mini-campaign on Saturday, there had been whispers that Hanrahan had indeed picked up a knock. However, the emergence of 20-year-old fly-half Harry Mallinder - son of Saints head coach Jim - and the ever-presence of veteran Stephen Myler have proved costly to Hanrahan's progression in the English East Midlands.
The Kerryman has started just seven games since leaving Munster in 2015, coming off the bench on 21 occasions. He also didn't sign a new deal at Northampton over the summer, adding fuel to the fire that a Munster return could be on the cards - particularly with the early retirement of Johnny Holland.
