Bristol Bears’ star centre Semi Radradra’s season is over, Pat Lam has confirmed, as he will have an operation on his knee this week.
Radradra is set to have a second knee surgery in 12 months, but on the other knee to the one he injured in the semi-finals of the sevens at the Tokyo Olympics back in the summer.
Radradra missed the first four months of the 2021/22 season after going under the knife on his other knee.
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Bristol director of rugby Lam confirmed the procedure has been brought forward with the Bears’ season effectively over after dropping out of the Heineken Champions Cup on Friday following the 29-35 defeat to Sale Sharks in the second leg of the last 16 knockout round
Bristol still have four games left in the Gallagher Premiership, starting with Gloucester at home on Friday night, but sit 10th in the table and will now almost certainly miss out on Champions Cup qualification next season as well having left themselves with too much of a gap to close
Fijian international captain Radradra, 29, has been playing injured for a couple of weeks but will now receive specialist medical attention.
Lam said: “It was time to get it done ready for next season
“Semi is having knee surgery this week, that is season-ending for him but it gives him a good chance to rehab, recoup and be ready for the start of next season which is a positive for him.
“The beauty about it is it will all be cleaned up and he will be ready for next season.”
