New Bath signing Rob Webber has been forced to undergo surgery for an ongoing shoulder injury.
The England international tore his rotator cuff muscle during the Six Nations and is expected to be sidelined until next year.
"Rob's had a second operation on his shoulder and we've got some other injuries," defence coach Mike Ford told the Bath Chronicle.
"But that's the nature of the game and it means a door can open for another player. You've just got to get on the horse."
Webber is one of a long Bath injury list including Stephen Donald and Tom Heathcote.
