The 26-year-old had a plate inserted in his arm last year after suffering a fracture in Bourgoin's league semi-final against Biarritz.

But Boyet picked up another problem with his arm in his side's 24-20 loss to Agen on April 8.

The club's medical team decided not to take any chances and Boyet will undergo an operation next week, which is expected to keep him on the sidelines for three months.

"Benjamin Boyet suffered a blow to the exact place where he was already hit last year," explained a club spokesman.

"The plate that was put there has moved so it is too risky for him to play again in that condition because it could worsen the injury."

Boyet made his international debut against Scotland in this years RBS 6 Nations and now has two caps.

Bourgoin are fifth in the regular season rankings.