Wallabies star Kurtley Beale has been ruled out of Super Rugby for up to a month with a fractured hand.
The Melbourne Rebels five-eighth was to undergo surgery after scans revealed a fracture in the third metacarpal on his left hand that will keep him out for 3-4 weeks.
Beale is already carrying a left shoulder complaint which will require surgery at the end of the season.
He suffered the injury in the Rebels' bonus-point loss to the New South Wales Waratahs last Friday night.
Beale joins an extensive casualty ward at Melbourne which includes Cooper Vuna, captain Gareth Delve, Chris Thomson and Jason Woodward.
