Friday 8 December 2017 17:27, UK
Sam Warburton will miss Wales' Six Nations campaign after being ruled out for up to six months following surgery on a knee injury.
Warburton was already sidelined as he recovered from an operation to rectify a neck problem, with the decision taken to send him for further surgery to correct the existing knee injury.
It was initially hoped the Cardiff Blues player would be available for his country's Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 3 as he was making good progress with his neck injury.
The latest development means he will instead be ruled out for the whole of the tournament as his frustrating season - which has seen him unable to feature in any matches - looks likely to be a write-off.
Warburton has not played since captaining the British and Irish Lions in the third Test against New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park five months ago, with his last game for Wales coming in the 20-18 defeat to France in their final match of the 2017 Six Nations.
"In close consultation with the WRU [Welsh Rugby Union] and Cardiff Blues we decided it would be proactive to have surgery now on a knee injury and I'm looking forward to returning to action fully fit," said Warburton.
The 29-year-old has played 74 times for Wales and led the Lions on their victorious 2013 tour to Australia as well as in the drawn series in New Zealand this summer.
Warburton has undergone a number of operations during his career, with an extensive list of previous injuries including a dislocated shoulder, torn hamstring, ankle ligament damage and fractured cheekbone.
The hope now will be that Warburton can enjoy a full pre-season's training ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, which begins a year before the World Cup in Japan.
Aaron Shingler and Josh Navidi filled in at flanker for Wales in their recent autumn Tests against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, while Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty could also earn a place in head coach Warren Gatland's Six Nations plans.
Warburton has now joined his fellow Lions and Wales colleague Jonathan Davies in being ruled out of the competition.
