Chiefs suffer Welch injury blow
Head coach Rob Baxter confirmed the 33-year-old lock is to be ruled out for several months after picking up a chest injury in the recent European Cup game away to Clermont. He joins Henry Slade (broken leg), Luke Cowan-Dickie (broken thumb) and Dave Ewers (knee) among the Chiefs' long-term injury victims.
The lock underwent surgery this week on the pectoral muscle injury and has been a key member of Baxter's side since arriving from the Scarlets back in the summer of 2012.
He will miss the European Cup clashes against Bordeaux-Begles (Round Five) in France and then the Round Six home assignment against the Ospreys.
"Damian is looking like he is out long-term, which is unfortunate. He's had an operation on his chest-pec area and we will know more of the details post-op," said Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter.
"It is looking like that is it for a little while for him – it's more likely to be months rather than weeks."
With only two points splitting the top three teams in Pool Two – second placed Clermont do have a game in Bordeaux in hand on the table-topping Ospreys – there is all to play for in the battle for a place in the last eight.
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