Cape Town - South African-born Richardt Strauss will miss the remainder of the European rugby season due to a heart condition.
The former Cheetahs hooker, who now plays for Leinster and Ireland, needs undergo immediate heart surgery, his club announced.
"Following the result of extensive medical tests, it has emerged that Ireland hooker Richardt Strauss has been diagnosed with a heart condition and will be unavailable for the for selection for the remainder of the season," Leinster said in a statement released on their website.
"The management are confident that the 27-year-old, who is set to undergo surgery this week, will make a full recovery and will provide him with the best care in his recovery."
Strauss, who is the cousin of Springbok hooker Adriaan, represented the Cheetahs between 2006 and 2009 before joining Leinster.
He made his Ireland debut against the Springboks last year and has since won four caps, but missed this year's Six Nations because of an ankle ligament injury.
The former Cheetahs hooker, who now plays for Leinster and Ireland, needs undergo immediate heart surgery, his club announced.
"Following the result of extensive medical tests, it has emerged that Ireland hooker Richardt Strauss has been diagnosed with a heart condition and will be unavailable for the for selection for the remainder of the season," Leinster said in a statement released on their website.
"The management are confident that the 27-year-old, who is set to undergo surgery this week, will make a full recovery and will provide him with the best care in his recovery."
Strauss, who is the cousin of Springbok hooker Adriaan, represented the Cheetahs between 2006 and 2009 before joining Leinster.
He made his Ireland debut against the Springboks last year and has since won four caps, but missed this year's Six Nations because of an ankle ligament injury.