Exeter Chiefs forward Chris Whitehead is expected to miss the next three months of the season after being told that he requires surgery on a neck injury.
The 26-year-old will go into hospital next week for the operation which the club are hopeful will cure the "on-going neck problem".
"Chris has a relatively serious injury and is going to have an operation on Tuesday, and he is going to be out for 10 to 12 weeks," Exeter coach Rob Baxter told the club's official website.
"Chris has an on-going neck problem, a typical hooker's problem, a bit of a degenerative issue, which we ultimately have to make a decision on. It is either a case of letting it get worse or deal with it now.
"Chris is going to be with us for a long time and we don't want to keep playing him when the injury is worsening, and end up breaking him. We feel it is right to get him treated now, get him 100 percent, and he should be back before the end of the season."
Whitehead recently signed a new two-year deal with the Premiership club.
Matt Law
