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Ulster captain Iain Henderson will miss several months of the new season following hip surgery.
The 34-year-old, who won the last of his 86 Ireland caps against New Zealand in November, missed the end of the northern province's season through suspension.
A red card against the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship (URC) resulted in a three-game ban that included the Challenge Cup final defeat by Montpellier in Bilbao.
The second row made his Ulster debut in April 2012 and first appeared for Ireland against South Africa in November of the same year.
A two-time tourist with the British and Irish Lions, he was named captain of his province following Rory Best's retirement in 2019.
Ulster start their URC season at home to Edinburgh on 25 September and Henderson is not head coach Richie Murphy's sole injury concern.
Bryn Ward (shoulder), Juarno Augustus (ankle), and Jude Postlethwaite (knee) have all also had surgery during the off-season and, according to the province, "are currently undergoing a period of rehabilitation".
This article was originally published by BBC Sport.
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