LONDON - Wales and Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies has been ruled out for up to six months after suffering a foot injury.
Davies suffered the injury during Wales' 29-21 loss to Australia on Saturday and will miss his country's remaining Tests against Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Davies, who has 65 caps for Wales, will need surgery and will likely also be sidelined for next year's Six Nations tournament.
"Jonathan Davies will undergo surgery to his foot following the injury sustained against Australia in the Under Armour Series," a Welsh Rugby Union statement read.
"It is envisaged that recovery will be in the region of six months."
It is a major blow for Wales and the Scarlets to lose Davies, who was British and Irish Lions player of the series against New Zealand earlier this year.
He went off during the final moments of Wales' 13th successive defeat against the Wallabies.
Although Wales head coach Warren Gatland is set to make several changes for next Saturday's meeting with Georgia, Davies was an integral part of his autumn plans.
The 29-year-old missed the 2015 World Cup due to a knee ligament injury, but he has been in world-class form throughout this year.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, and before the full extent of Davies' injury was announced, Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins said: "It doesn't look great.
"He is a world-class rugby player, there is no doubting that. Any team with someone like Jon involved is certainly going to miss him.
"He was outstanding in the summer for the Lions, for us and for the Scarlets at the end of the season.
"The sad thing is he's been playing incredibly well, and it was right at the end of the game as well."
Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts was called into Wales' autumn Test squad as injury cover on Monday.
Roberts, who has won 93 caps, missed out on a place in the original 36-man party announced by Gatland last month.