Catalan Dragons forward Jason Baitieri will be sidelined for the rest of the Super League season due to a serious knee injury that requires major surgery.
The 23-year-old Paris-born Baitieri, who was an ever-present for the Dragons so far this year, tore his anterior cruciate ligament during Saturday's 28-20 home defeat by Huddersfield and will undergo major surgery next week.
"It's really bad news for the team," said Catalan coach Laurent Frayssinous.
"Jason is a valuable player on and off the field, who has worked really hard to become one of the leaders in the team.
"But the team has so far always bounced back and I know we will find the strength to overcome this new injury."
The loss of Baitieri, who has been a virtual ever-present since joining the Perpignan club from Sydney Roosters at the start of the season 2011 season, is the latest in a series of injury blows for Frayssinous' men.
Full-back Brent Webb is out for the season with a back injury, prop Olivier Elima will be sidelined until August with a ruptured bicep and scrum-half Scott Dureau has yet to play this year after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour.
Elima, the French national captain, is expected back for the World Cup, which starts in late October, but Baitieri is unlikely to have recovered in time.