Wallabies playmaker Berrick Barnes has suffered another injury setback after fracturing his right wrist in the Waratahs’ 27-26 Super Rugby loss to the Cheetahs in Sydney.

Barnes walked from the field in the 17th minute of his comeback game at Allianz Stadium clutching his right wrist after Cheetahs winger Raymond Rhule scored in the corner.

There were big hopes Barnes would be the man to steer the Waratahs back on track for their 2013 Super Rugby campaign after early losses to both the Brumbies and Reds.

With the Wallabies fly-half and inside centre spots still up for grabs for the upcoming British and Irish Lions Tour in June, the injury will also limit Barnes’ chances to impress coach Robbie Deans.

It’s another devastating setback for the 50-Test capped Wallaby, who had only just returned from the sidelines after injuring his knee in the Waratahs’ first trial game of the season in January.

Barnes has had an unlucky run of injuries throughout his career, including both a shoulder and knee injury in 2008, a Wallabies Tour-ending rolled ankle in 2009, “footballer’s migraine” in 2011 and a punctured lung during the Rugby Championship in 2012 which also saw him miss the Spring Tour.

The 26-year-old former Wallabies vice-captain is off contract at the end of the season and there is speculation he is weighing up his options for an overseas move to Japan.