New England captain Jonny Wilkinson looks set to miss his country's autumn games against Canada, South Africa and Australia as a result of his latest injury.
Wilkinson's club side Newcastle revealed that the fly-half will be out of action for up to six weeks because of a haematoma in his upper right arm.
Wilkinson suffered a muscle bleed in his upper arm at the start of the season, and then took another blow on the same spot in the Premiership game against Wasps.
Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew said: "We've received medical advice this week and spoken at length with Jonny and, as always, we are doing what is in the best interests of the player."
"We feel that with every player we've always done what's right medically, and we've never forced any player into a position which threatens them."
Andrew also insisted that there is no conection between this current injury and the shoulder and neck problems that kept his sideline for eight months after the World Cup.
"This is unfortunate, following on from his previous injury, but it is not related at all to that one and is completely separate. We will just let him recover over the next few weeks and then get him back on the field again," Andrew added.
