The Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth faces up to five months out of the game after being told he needs surgery on a foot injury sustained in last weekend's win over France in Paris.
The 22-year-old will have an operation in Cape Town next week, just over a week after he was named one of the five nominees for the International Rugby Board World Player of the Year Award for 2013.
Etzebeth also missed the start of last season after injuring an ankle in a pre-season match.
The Stormers recently signed Argentine lock Manuel Carizza, who arrives in Cape Town in January.
