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Falcons Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, said: "Jonny is in London, and will have the operation later today. "He damaged his groin last week, and the injury is more commonly known as a sportsman's hernia. We are told it's a fairly routine operation, and we hope to have him back for the game against Leeds on December 27, all things being well."
The 26 year old former England captain has made four competitive starts and two bench appearances for the Falcons this season. This included European outings against Brive and Border Rievers, where he scored an impressive 42 points and currently tops the season's leader board in the new look European Challenge Cup. Falcons sit top of Pool 4 with nine points from two games and look like favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.
Andrew added: "It's yet another unfortunate blow to have Jonny out again with injury, but there's no point dwelling on it, you just have to deal with what's thrown at you.
"We're lucky in one regard at this club to have a number of quality players to cover that area, with Toby Flood starting there for us against Wasps on Sunday, and having a full international in Dave Walder as back-up on the bench."
