Justin Tipuric is set to be sidelined until Christmas by the shoulder injury he suffered playing for the British and Irish Lions against Japan at Murrayfield on June 26.
It’s a heavy blow not just for the 31-year-old flanker but for his region the Ospreys and for Wales as well.
Wales play New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Australia this autumn and will now have to do so without their celebrated first-choice No. 7, while he is also poised to be absent for a batch of Ospreys’ games in the new United Rugby Championship.
Read more: The untold stories of Justin Tipuric and how he was almost lost to rugby
His position at regional level will likely be filled by Jac Morgan, the Ospreys’ new acquisition from the Scarlets, with Wales having the option of deploying Josh Navidi in the openside role.
No-one would have wanted to see Tipuric taken from the scene for the next four months.
The Ospreys haven’t gone into specifics about the precise nature of his injury, but their club captain is undergoing a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the region’s medical team.
A statement from Liberty Stadium region confirmed the 86-cap international "will be sidelined for the beginning of the inaugural United Rugby Championship campaign and looks set to be out of action until Christmas".
Head coach Toby Booth said: "We are gutted for Justin to get injured whilst representing the Lions which is the pinnacle of any player’ s career.
"To lose him for a long period will leave a void in our team as a player and a leader, which we will have to fill.
"He has started the rehab process and has already had some positive consultation on the road to recovery. He is extremely professional and diligent as you would expect from someone of his standing.
"As with all injured players it’s important that we support him through this period. We look forward to having him available when he is good and ready."
Tipuric left the field against Japan not long after Alun Wyn Jones exited from the same game, also with a shoulder problem.
Initially, it seemed that Tipuric’s injury might not be as concerning as the bump his long-standing team-mate sustained, with Warren Gatland even floating the idea at the post-match press conference that the master craftsman from Trebanos might have suffered just "a sting " in the shoulder, adding: "We’re pretty confident he's going to be OK."
Sadly, it’s proven altogether more serious.
While Jones has since joined the Lions party in South Africa after an improbably rapid return to good health, Tipuric faces a long-haul recovery.
It’s an especially cruel cut for the Wales international after the premature end of his Lions campaign.
But he won't lack for assistance at the Ospreys.
"He’s so highly regarded at the club, not just as a player but as a man," a source close to the region told WalesOnline.
"He’s humble and down to earth. There’s never a fuss with him.
"Touch wood, everything will go well in the coming months and he’ll return as strong and fit as ever.
"He’ll have the right backing at every stage."
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