Eddie O'Sullivan said; "Simon has been diagnosed as having an irregular heartbeat, the cause of which we don't know and may never know. He's had another scan on his heart and has been given the all clear. As soon as they're happy for him to travel back home he will be released. But that probably won't happen until to Tuesday"

"These things always do have a galvanising effect. What happened last week (against France) had a galvanising effect and granted we didn't produce the performance we felt the tightness of the squad deserved. But we're a very close squad. Simon's been with us for a while and has been an important part of our 22 for the last four or five Six Nations (tournaments). For him not to be there feels like someone is missing."

Ulster Coach Mark McCall said this of Simon: "Simon has been one of the key figures for Ulster in the last couple of years," He is unbelieveably popular among the players and fans and what has happened has been a big concern to everyone." "We all wish Simon well - we have been in contact with him and fingers crossed he'll be home very soon."