Hooker Peato Mauvaka will miss at least the start of France's defence of their Six Nations Grand Slam title with a broken finger, his club Toulouse announced on Wednesday.
Mauvaka is to go under the knife on Friday, France coach Fabien Galthie initially saying the 19-times capped front-row forward would likely be out for three weeks.
Toulouse coach Ugo Mola added, however, that "unfortunately, it will be a little bit longer".
Mauvaka sustained the fracture early in Toulouse's 30-7 defeat by La Rochelle in the Top 14 last weekend, but continued to play on with the injury.
The New Caledonia-born player appeared in all of France's Six Nations campaign last season, coming on in all five games to replace Toulouse teammate and starting hooker Julien Marchand.