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Sydney -Wasps-bound Wallaby centre Kurtley Beale has undergone successful knee surgery and is expected to be side-lined for up to six months, the Waratahs said on Monday.
Beale suffered a serious left knee injury in the opening minute of the Waratahs' 31-8 Super Rugby win over the Bulls in Sydney on Saturday.
The 27-year-old had just a day earlier a signed a lucrative deal to play with Wasps next season which is set to make him the highest-paid player in the English Premiership.
There were initial fears that Beale could be side-lined for potentially up to a year, jeopardising his Wasps commitment, but surgeons said the prognosis was positive.
"The procedure went well with a good fixation of the patella tendon back onto the patella bone," a statement said.
"Beale will remain side-lined for four to six months and will spend the next six weeks in a range of motion braces.
"The prognosis was much better than expected given the tendon remained intact, requiring less invasive surgery, and that the injury was isolated with no other damage to the knee."
Beale will sit out the Wallabies' three-Test home series against England next month, the remainder of the Super Rugby season with the Waratahs and may now miss the September start of the northern hemisphere season.
