Six Nations: Ireland lock Iain Henderson out with Covid-19 as captain Johnny Sexton fit to return

Henderson also missed Ireland's opening Six Nations win over Wales with an ankle injury

Ireland lock Iain Henderson has been ruled out of Sunday's Six Nations meeting with Italy in Dublin after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Ulster captain has returned home to isolate after producing the positive result during routine testing as the squad assembled again on Monday night.

Henderson's withdrawal came as Ireland captain Johnny Sexton confirmed he has recovered from injury.

The fly-half is now set to face the Italians at the Aviva Stadium.

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British and Irish Lion Henderson, 30, missed Ireland's opening Six Nations win over Wales with an ankle injury before returning from the bench in the defeat by France.

Head coach Andy Farrell selected Tadhg Beirne to partner James Ryan in the second row for each of those games.

The Irish Rugby Football Union confirmed Henderson's absence with Covid as it said in a statement: "The positive result has since been confirmed.

"Iain is well and has left Ireland camp to complete his period of isolation at home. There are no other positive results within the group and the squad will continue to test across the week."

The return of Sexton will boost Ireland, having missed the 30-24 loss in France after injuring his hamstring in training during the build-up to the game.

However, the 36-year-old has trained fully at the end of last week and for the past two days.

Joey Carbery deputised for Sexton in what was Farrell's only change from the team that secured the impressive home victory over Wales.

Sexton 'well used to competition' for Ireland place

Sexton had to watch Ireland's narrow defeat in Paris from the sidelines

Sexton praised Carbery for his assured performance against France, in which the Munster fly-half kicked nine points, but said that competition for the number 10 jersey is nothing new.

Carbery had also produced impressive displays for Ireland last summer and in the autumn, but Sexton has been his country's leading fly-half for more than a decade and is not fazed by the latest threat to his position.

"Look, I'm well used to competition, I've had it my whole career," he said.

"Early doors with Ronan O'Gara and Felipe (Contepomi) in Ireland and in Leinster. And then, when you get the jersey, you have always someone else that you're competing with.

"Over the years (there has been) Ian Madigan, Ian McKinley, Paddy Jackson, Joey.

"Joey's been around a long time. He's 26 now so I've been used to it for the last five years. It's nothing new, nothing's changed for me.

"What's important to me is to make sure I prepare as best as I can. There's no point in worrying too much about what other people are doing.

"Of course, I respect all other 10s. You just have to focus on yourself and make sure you're fit and firing when you do get the chance to play."

'I wanted to put demons to bed against France'

Sexton had been hoping to banish memories of Ireland's 2020 trip to Paris when they blew the Six Nations title and he was criticised for his reaction to being substituted.

Having been denied that chance, he concedes the latest defeat in the French capital was a difficult watch but feels lessons will be learned after the team's nine-match winning run was halted.

"I'm not the best spectator and this game was particularly tough," he said.

"It was a game I almost had in my head for the last two years based on what happened there previously and I thought I was in a great place to go and put those demons to bed.

"It was bad timing to pick up the small injury like I did but there were some great learnings for the team in there."

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