The 22-year-old Ospreys forward, who won his fifth cap against New Zealand last month, is set to require reconstructive shoulder surgery after suffering a partial dislocation against the Cardiff Blues on December 23.

Ospreys are awaiting results of a scan but are bracing themselves for news that he will
be sidelined until the summer at least.

Ian looks likely to be out until June, said the regions physiotherapist Brian Downey.

It isnt great news for him or for the Ospreys because we are going well in the Heineken Cup and Ian is an important part of our team.

But there should still be an opportunity for him to prove his fitness for the World Cup.

It looks like the same problem that saw our hooker Richard Hibbard undergo surgery earlier in the season. It will be a six-month lay-off for Richard and probably the same for Ian.

The extent of the injury means Evans is set to be ruled out of the Ospreys Heineken Cup campaign and could be sidelined for the Six Nations and Waless end-of-season tour of Australia.

But a quicker-than-expected recovery might put him in the frame for the World Cup warm-up matches against England, Argentina and France in August.

The burgeoning 6ft 8in talent has missed just one of Wales's last six internationals and is seen as an important member of the Welsh pack.