The South African flanker Schalk Burger is unlikely to play any rugby this year having just undergone a third back operation on a nerve in his back.
Burger hasn't played since the opening game of the 2012 Super Rugby season and he's still recovering from life-threatening bacterial meningitis which he contracted after his second back operation.
The 30-year-old Springbok great missed out on a national contract last month due to uncertainty over his future.
