Bath and England centre Jonathan Joseph has been ruled out for three months with a chest injury.
The 24-year-old is a doubt for the start of the Six Nations after undergoing surgery earlier this week on his pectoral muscle.
The injury affected his World Cup campaign as he was ruled out of the defeat to Wales, but returned to face Australia and then came on as a replacement against Uruguay.
A statement from his club read: "Bath can confirm that centre Jonathan Joseph underwent surgery earlier this week for a pectoral injury sustained during the World Cup.
"Joseph, who made his 16th international appearance for England during the competition, will be out of action for approximately three months."
England failed to progress into the quarter-final stage after losing to Australia in Pool A.