John Muldoon broke his arm just minutes into his Ireland debut against New Zealand this summer © Getty Images

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Connacht have confirmed that captain John Muldoon broke his right arm in the closing stages of last Friday night's Amlin Challenge Cup defeat by Harlequins at the Sportsground.

The news comes as a massive blow for both the province and the player, as the 28-year-old forward fractured a bone in the same arm during Ireland's clash with New Zealand in New Plymouth in June and only made his return to competitive rugby in October.

Muldoon is now expected to miss Connacht's upcoming Magners League derbies against Munster, on Sunday, and Leinster, on New Year's Day, as well as the January 6 trip to Rodney Parade to take on the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Johnny O'Connor (back) and Michael Swift (head) also picked up injuries in the game against Quins in Galway, while it also emerged after the game that star trio Ian Keatley, Sean Cronin and Fionn Carr will all be leaving the province next summer, much to the disappointment of head coach Eric Elwood.

"In fairness, they came in to us during the week and informed us that they would be moving on at the end of the season and that they were talking to other clubs," the former Ireland international said.

"And given that it's a World Cup season we're coming into we were always going to be an easier target from clubs looking to fill gaps in their squads. We always knew these things could happen. If clubs are coming in looking for them then the players are doing well and we must be doing something right. So we always knew that would be the case.

"But, on the other hand, it's disappointing because we had hoped to hang on to them for another while."