Ulster have been handed a major blow with the news flanker Marcell Coetzee is facing a further nine months on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery.
Coetzee, who has been capped 26 times by the Springboks, has been plagued with knee problems since his arrival in Belfast in 2016.
Earlier this month he returned to South Africa for a consultation on his left knee after a reoccurrence of the pain and swelling he had been suffering.
And now the province have revealed the 26-year-old has undergone further surgery, with a nine-month recovery window meaning he will miss the rest of the season.
An Ulster statement read: “Marcell Coetzee underwent surgery this week in South Africa.
“He has had recurrent left knee problems because of a laxity in his previously repaired ACL, and to repair this he has had revision surgery performed on this ligament. His anticipated return to play time is nine months.”
Coetzee had been limited to just one appearance so far this season, in the opening Pro 14 win over the Cheetahs at Ravenhill.
