Wallace has been troubled by the injury all season and a scan taken on his return from holidays showed that surgery was required. He will go into the Blackrock Clinic on Friday week for an operation and will need between four to six months to recover fully.

The news means that Munster will be without the influential Wallace for the Celtic League and Heineken Cup while Ediie O'Sullivan must do without him for the autumn internationals and RWC qualifiers.

Wallace explained that the decision to go ahead with the operation couldn't be put off any longer." I suppose I always knew I'd have to have something done about it. There was no point in trying to go on as I was going because it just wasn't clearing up so it really was a question of biting the bullet. It looks like it will be after Christmas before I will be back playing."

With Ireland's busy autumn schedule, it was unlikely he would have been heavily involved in the Celtic League but his absence from Munster's Heineken Cup campaign will be a serious loss and Munster coach Alan Gaffney must now look around to try and find a replacement for the 27 year old Garryowen backrower.