Flanker Sam Warburton requires surgery on a long-standing neck injury and will be sidelined for up to four months.
The British and Irish Lions captain exacerbated the problem on his return to training this week and inspection of scans revealed that an operation is required.
It means Warburton will miss a chunk of the season with the Cardiff Blues and Wales' autumn internationals, leaving Warren Gatland potentially short in the back row.
It will also mean the flanker is in a race against time to be fit for the start of the 2018 Six Nations at the beginning of February.
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