Wales flanker Ellis Jenkins will require surgery after being hurt during the dying seconds of last Saturday's victory over South Africa.
Jenkins’ regional team Cardiff Blues confirmed that he suffered “a significant knee injury” as Wales beat the Springboks 20-11 in Cardiff.
In a statement, the Blues said: “Cardiff Blues can confirm Ellis Jenkins sustained a significant knee injury during Wales’ autumn victory over South Africa, which will require surgical intervention.
“Further specialist reviews are needed to establish an accurate prognosis following surgery.
“Cardiff Blues and WRU (Welsh Rugby Union) have and will continue to work closely to manage Ellis’s care optimally.
“No further comments will be made at this stage.”
No timescale has so far been put on the 25-year-old’s recovery, but it would appear that Jenkins is facing a lengthy lay-off.
Such an absence would potentially rule him out of the Six Nations and possibly the rest of this season, although it is just under nine months until Wales’ opening World Cup warm-up game against England, while their first World Cup fixture is against Georgia on September 23rd.
Jenkins produced an outstanding display against South Africa as Wales completed their first autumn Tests clean sweep after also beating Scotland, Australia and Tonga.
Jenkins, who has won 11 caps and skippered Wales to victory over the Springboks earlier this year, received a late call-up off the bench to start after Dan Lydiate withdrew through injury.
He then switched from blindside flanker to number eight after just 12 minutes as Ross Moriarty was forced off through concussion, but he delivered a man-of-the-match performance.
