Wales flyhalf Rhys Priestland will miss the next six months after rupturing his left Achilles tendon, ruling him out of the Six Nations, and jeopardising his hopes of touring Australia with the British and Irish Lions.
His Llanelli Scarlets club says he was hurt in their loss to Exeter in the Heineken Cup on Saturday, and has undergone surgery.
Priestland has established himself as the first-choice Number 10 for Wales, starring in the run to the World Cup semifinals in 2011 and its Grand Slam-winning campaign in the Six Nations this year.
He was expected to be in the running for one of the flyhalf berths for the Lions but is unlikely to be fit in time for the tour, which starts in June.