Saracens hooker Schalk Brits out until New Year

Saracens hooker Schalk Brits will not return until “well into the new year” after sustaining a knee ligament injury.

Brits came off early in the second half of Saracens' 30-23 victory over Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup on Saturday with reports suggesting the influential hooker may be out for the rest of the season.

The 33-year-old, who has made more than 100 Premiership appearances for Saracens, will undergo surgery tomorrow.

"Schalk is due to have surgery and will then commence rehabilitation with the club's medical staff," head of medicine Joe Collins told the club website on today. Brits is not expected to return until well into the new year."