RugbyU: Clermont's Iturria out for up to six months

CLERMONT-FERRAND: Clermont's French international lock Arthur Iturria has been ruled out for four to six months to have a shoulder operation, the French Top 14 champions announced on Thursday.

"He will miss the beginning of next season because of instability in his shoulder, and the player and medical staff in Auvergne have decided to correct it with surgery," the club said in a statement.

The 23-year-old impressed as Clermont finished top of the regular-season table, before beating Toulon in the final to win their second French title.

But Iturria, who made his international debut for France earlier this year, will now be absent for the start of both the domestic campaign and the European Champions Cup.