Wasps fly-half Jimmy Gopperth is set to miss the vast majority of the new season after being ruled out for up to nine months with a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Gopperth, who was the Premiership and Wasps player of the year in 2016/17, will be out for between six and nine months after sustaining the injury in a pre-season friendly against Connacht.
“Jimmy Gopperth has undergone an ACL reconstruction following an injury sustained in Connacht,” the club confirmed in a statement.
Gopperth’s injury leaves Wasps director of rugby Dai Young short of options in the playmaking department following Danny Cipriani’s move to Gloucester earlier this summer. Former All Black Lima Sopoaga has joined Wasps but is unlikely to be available for the club’s season opener against Worcester meaning Billy Searle is set to deputise at No.10.