Farrell also missed the start of last season with a knee injury

Farrell suffered the injury in the Tri-Nations final and returned early from Wigan's pre-season tour after his knee failed to respond to treatment.

"It's obviously very disappointing when you lose your captain and inspiration but it's no use crying over spilt milk," said Wigan coach Dennis Betts.

"It will be hard for us but it will teach us to play without him."

Farrell, who won both the Golden Boot and the Man of Steel awards last season, has established a reputation for playing through the pain barrier for both club and country.

"There was a chance he could have been right without the operation but he was struggling to train and recover after each session and so we needed to find out what it was," added Betts.

"It's better to get it sorted out now. I am looking forward to the likes of Sean O'Loughlin, Gareth Hock and Danny Tickle stepping forward.

Andy Farrell is irreplaceable Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay

"And, when Faz comes back in May, it will provide us with a massive boost."

Farrell will miss the opening two rounds of the Challenge Cup as well as the first three months of Super League X.

"It's devastating news for both Andy and the club," said Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay.

"It is a heavy price that Andy and the club have had to pay for giving all to their country."

Have Your Say How will Wigan cope without Farrell?

Lindsay has blamed Farrell's injury on the strain of playing international rugby at the end of an arduous season, coupled with the rules restricting the size of Super League clubs' squads.

The so-called "20/20 rule" means that clubs cannot have more than 20 players in their squad who earn more than �20,000 a year.

"The Tri-Nations was a massive drain upon the players following a long season," said Lindsay.

"Andy Farrell is irreplaceable and with the restrictions of the rule limiting squads to 20 players, it means we will already be drafting teenagers into our squad before we even kick off.

"I have been saying for some considerable time that the 20/20 rule places unwarranted physical strain upon the modern-day players.

"We have a salary cap limit and clubs should be able to spend that money however they see fit and sensibly on more than twenty players."

OBE honour for captain Farrell

Farrell was made an OBE in the New Year Honours list.