Wales full-back Kevin Morgan will miss the rest of the season after he dislocated his foot in the Dragons' 41-23 loss at Cardiff Blues. The 28-year-old, who has 36 caps to his name, limped off in the first half.
He needs an operation to have the main foot bone screwed back to his ankle and will be out for at least four months.
Morgan played against New Zealand and Fiji in the autumn, but injured an ankle in the latter game and missed the South Africa and Australia Tests.
That was the latest in a series of major injuries that have plagued the speedy Pontypridd man's career.
 |  If anyone can come back and be better than ever it's Kevin, he has such a strong mind-set |
But he has repeatedly fought back to be a stalwart of the Wales squad and national coach Mike Ruddock will hope he can return to challenge for a place in his back three in 2006/7.
"I'm gutted he's out for the Six Nations, but more gutted for Kevin," Ruddock told BBC Sport Wales.
"He's been so unlucky with injuries - such a talented player could have won 136 caps, but in some ways his very bravery costs him.
"If anyone can come back and be better than ever it's Kevin, he has such a strong mind-set.
"He'll be back for us, but we are fortunate to have players like Lee Byrne, Rhys Williams, Haldane Luscombe, Dafydd James and Barry Davies who can cover."
Ruddock is also without Gavin Henson for the first three rounds of the Six Nations after the Ospreys star's suspension.
His three-quarter options are further limited by the ongoing knee problem affecting Tom Shanklin and the club v country row involving Mark Taylor.
Dragons and Wales three-quarter Nathan Brew, who has recently returned from nine months out with injuries, suffered a broken thumb in the Blues game.
The 23-year-old faces at least two months on the sidelines.
The injuries to Morgan and Brew will be a severe blow to the struggling Dragons, who lie second-from-bottom of the Celtic League.
The Gwent side's other main strike weapon, wing Gareth Wyatt, dislocated his elbow earlier this month and faces around two months on the sidelines.
Sione Tuipulotu (neck and shoulder), Gareth Baber (flu) and James Ireland (knee) are also missing from the back line at the moment.
In the forwards, Jason Forster (groin), Jamie Ringer (twisted ankle), Chris Anthony (neck and shoulder), Steve Jones (knee) and Ian Gough (shoulder) are on the sidelines, while Richard Bryan (knee) is out for the season.
MMIX
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