Bowe a Six Nations blow
Bowe also missed the 2014 Championship through injury – but Ireland won it without him – and they will have to do so again, as they bid to secure a hat-trick of consecutive titles next year.
The 31-year-old started every game at this year's Six Nations and crossed twice at the 2015 World Cup before injury struck him down in Ireland's quarter-final defeat to Argentina.
It comes as bad news for his club Ulster, who will also be without Ireland stars Iain Henderson and Jared Payne after they too were both injured during the World Cup.
"Tommy [Bowe] sustained posterior cruciate ligament and meniscal injuries to his right knee during the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina. He had successful surgery to repair the damage [on Monday] and he will be ruled out for at least six months," a statement from Ulster said.
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