Shot in the dark.

Sean O’Brien has played his final game for Leinster and will not play for Ireland at this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan as he gets set to go under the knife once again following another season destroyed by injury.

The 32-year-old has spent most of the last two seasons sidelined, with the latest problem a reoccurrence of a hip issue that could end up ending his career prematurely.

O’Brien is set to move to London Irish next season on a three-year deal, but has admitted he might never get a chance to play for them should the operation not go well. O’Brien has described the procedure as a “shot in the dark.”

“It possibly could. It’s a shot in the dark really,” O’Brien told Virgin Media

“It is going to be a whole resurface of my hip joint. We’ll see where it takes us.

“But, it is one where I’m, you know, excited about – if it works – and it can keep my career going for another few years.”

Fingers crossed it goes well. He may have played his final game for Leinster and Ireland – but the former European Player the Year deserves one last run after everything he’s been through injury-wise.