Former France international Louis Picamoles is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury.
The 33-year-old ruptured his cruciate ligaments in his left knee during Montpellier’s Champions Cup loss to rivals Toulouse last Saturday and is expected to be out of action until September 2020.
That date has been set as a target by the Montpellier medical staff, but they have confirmed that he could be out for longer with September the earliest return date.
It is a cruel blow for the No 8 who called time on his international career following the recent Rugby World Cup in Japan, with it being reported that he wanted to focus on his club commitments.
He will undergo surgery on the injury before his rehabilitation period, but some now fear the 82-cap French international could consider his career as he turns 34 in February.
Hopefully he will return to full health as quickly as possible and return to action having enjoyed an incredible career to date with stints at Montpellier, Toulouse and Northampton Saints before a return to Montpellier in 2017.
That return saw him sign a three-year contract which is set to run out in June 2020, with his future now up in the air.
