Wales squad member Willis Halaholo is set to miss the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury which requires surgery.
The Cardiff Blues centre suffered acute anterior cruciate ligament damage during Saturday’s European Challenge Cup clash with Leicester at the Arms Park.
He will undergo an operation next week and then begin his rehabilitation process, with the time-scale for such an injury generally being a lay-off of around nine months.
Halaholo is replaced by the 58-times capped Scott Williams in Wayne Pivac’s squad for Saturday’s match against the Barbarians at the Principality Stadium.
It’s a devastating blow for the Kiwi-born 29-year-old who was called up by Wales for the first time last week, having just qualified under the three-year residency rule.
As one of only three specialist centres in the original 35-man group, he would have had a good chance of featuring in some way against the Baa-Baas.
He suffered the injury while going on a trademark side-stepping run during the first half against the Tigers.
