Ellis Jenkins is unlikely to appear for Cardiff Blues again in 2017 after limping off during their pre-season friendly with Exeter Chiefs.
The 24-year-old has appeared more than 50 times for Cardiff and captained the Wales under-20 side at the 2013 Junior World Cup.
And he made his debut for the senior side last year but will miss out on the autumn internationals after suffering a brutal hamstring tear.
“There are three hamstrings, as I understand it, and he tore one of them off the bone,” Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson said.
Op confirmed for tomorrow. Not ideal to start the season but plenty of rugby to be played. Good luck @cardiff_blues tonight. Go hard! #sanky
— Ellis Jenkins (@EllisJenkins_) September 1, 2017
“They re-attached that part. It wasn’t as bad as the Dan Fish one last year where all three were torn off the bone.
“We are probably not going to see him back until the new year.”
The injury to Jenkins means Blues are without two key men in the back row as Sam Warburton takes time off after a brutal British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.