The 31-year-old lock suffered ligament damage to his knee during Toulouses 22-6 Top 16 loss to Bourgoin at the start of April but recovered in time to face Stade Francais in the European Cup final last weekend.

However, Pelous was forced out of the final midway through after suffering a recurrence of the injury and further medical tests have now revealed he will need to go under the knife.

I must be operated on and I will have to plan three months of physiotherapy after it, he told L'Equipe.

I will have to rest longer than planned before starting next season.

With his long-term goal being to play in the 2007 World Cup before hanging up his boots, Pelous is determined not to take any risks in making his comeback this time.

This is the third time this year I have had a problem with my knee - the second time in less than two months, and the first time it is so serious,'' he added.

''I must now listen to my body and do what's necessary to recover well.

''I could decide to count on time to recover but if I don't undergo the operation now and suffer from a cruciate knee ligament blow next year, this will be another story.''

Toulouse coach Guy Noves believes Pelous injury is a result of the players hectic career.

''Fabien is now paying for two years of non-stop international and domestic action,'' Noves said.

''We tried to rest him as much as possible but his body is getting fed up, this injury proves it.''