Paris - France scrum half Morgan Parra will miss at least part of the upcoming Six Nations championship with a left knee injury, Clermont, his Top 14 side, announced on Monday.
The 25-year-old is expected to be sidelined for up to three months, meaning he will be unavailable for the start of the Six Nations which begins on February 1.
Parra has played for France in their three November Tests against Tonga, when he scored 16 points in his country's 38-18 win, New Zealand and South Africa.
Parra suffered the injury in Saturday's game against the Springboks.
"He doesn't need surgery," a statement on Clermont's website reported.
"His comeback is envisaged from the middle of February."
France open their Six Nations campaign against England in Paris on February 1, before tackling Italy at the Stade de France on February 9, Wales in Cardiff on February 21, Scotland at Murrayfield on March 8, before finishing with a home game against Ireland seven days later.