France scrum-half Yachvili set for surgery

Biarritz and France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili is set to be out of action for two to three months after being told he needs surgery on a slipped disc, the club announced on Tuesday. "I've been feeling pain for several weeks and have taken pain killers but the pain continues to persist despite the anti-inflamatories," explained the 2011 World Cup finalist. "I have been to see a specialist who has told me that surgery is necessary," he continued. The 31-year-old, who was on the losing side for Biarritz during the 2006 and 2010 European Cup finals against Munster and Toulouse respectively, is now set to miss at least eight weeks of action for the early Top 14 leaders. In his absence, Yann Lesgourgues will take care of scrum-half duties with Julien Peyrelongue providing back-up. Yachvili came off the bench last Saturday for the final 20 minutes of Biaritz's opening 35-10 victory over newly promoted Mont-de-Marsan.