The New South Wales Waratahs' loose forward Wycliff Palu will miss the remainder of the Super rugby season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Saturday's loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Scans have shown Palu will need reconstructive surgery.
Palu, who has only just re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union and the Waratahs through until 2012, had to be helped off the field after falling awkwardly in a tackle.
The third-placed Waratahs also have other injury worries with prop Benn Robinson suffering a small fracture in his forearm and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau sustaining slight ligament damage to his right shoulder.
