Azam Out

The injury is almost identical to the one he suffered last season to his right shoulder and he is likely to be out of action until the end of February.

Azam suffered the set-back in October but had appeared to be close to a potential return when he resumed contact training before Gloucester's Guinness Premiership trip to London Irish last month.

But the injury, which affects the shoulder's stability, did not settle down and required a subsequent operation. Gloucester's head coach Dean Ryan told www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk. "Everyone at the club is obviously very disappointed for Olivier, particularly after the problems he suffered last year.

"To sustained another serious injury so quickly is disappointing for him and to us because we will miss the huge contribution he makes to the team.

"All we can do now is wish him a speedy recovery so he his back with us as soon as possible."

Welsh international Mefin Davies as Gloucester's senior hooker with Rob Elloway and James Parkes also in contention.