Jone Qovu out for months with knee injury

Qovu, 32, has started 10 of La Rochelle's 14 games this season, but will go under the knife next week after suffering the injury in training.

"It's a tough blow first for the player, who prepared well in the off season and has had a good start to the season," La Rochelle coach Patrice Collazo said.

"It's also a hammerblow for the team. Jone is an important player in the squad, but it's part of the vagaries of a season."

Qovu, capped 13 times by Fiji, joined La Rochelle in 2014 from Racing 92, where he spent seven seasons.

Agence France-Presse