David Auradou, captain of Heineken Cup finalists Stade Francais Paris, is out for five weeks.
Auradou, who captained the Parisians throughout last season's Heineken Cup campaign ending in defeat to Toulouse in Murrayfield, suffered a toe fracture while playing in a beach rugby tournament.
The six foot seven 32 year old, second row, will miss the start of the French Top 14 championship, which returns at the end of August. Paris fans will be hoping that Auradou will be back to full fitness for their opening Heineken Cup Pool 3 match away to Celtic League champions the Ospreys on Saturday, 22 October.