BRISBANE - Japan World Cup star Ayumu Goromaru faces shoulder surgery next week and will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds, the club said Sunday.
Queensland Reds' Japanese player Ayumu Goromaru receives attention after a shoulder injury during the Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves.
Goromaru, 30, suffered an AC joint separation in the Reds' 35-25 win over Japan's Sunwolves in Brisbane on Saturday.
He is expected to be sidelined for 12 weeks, ruling him out of the Reds' final three Super Rugby games and Japan's two-Test series against the touring Scotland side next month.
Goromaru injured his shoulder when he attempted to stop a try by Sunwolves flanker Liaki Moli midway through the second half.
The Japanese international had hoped the injury was not too serious, spending a lengthy period after the match signing autographs and meeting fans.
But scans later revealed the extent of the damage to his shoulder.
"I'm disappointed I can't play out the rest of the season with my Reds teammates and I'm obviously disappointed to be missing out on the June Test series with Japan," Goromaru said in a club statement.
"I've had a fantastic time in Australia and now I just want to work hard on my recovery. I'm looking forward to what challenges are ahead."
Goromaru shot to stardom after he kicked 24 points in the Brave Blossoms' 34-32 stunning upset win over South Africa at the World Cup last year.
This is likely to be Goromaru's only season with the Reds amid reports that he will head to big-spending French club Toulon later this year.
The fullback, who is known for his distinctive goal-kicking stance and has a huge following in Japan, will likely play in the French Top 14 from August, Japanese reports said last week.