Halfpenny has scored five tries in his 10 international caps for Wales

Warren Gatland has revealed Wales wing Leigh Halfpenny will undergo surgery to cure a shoulder injury in the summer.

The Cardiff Blues star will play on despite the pain for the rest of the season but will likely miss Wales' summer tour to New Zealand.

"Leigh may not be available for the summer tour as he needs a shoulder operation," said Wales coach Gatland.

"We understand it is just a tidy up of a shoulder and he should be back for the start of next season."

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to rugby stardom as Halfpenny went from semi-professional player to British and Irish Lions star inside six months.

But Halfpenny suffered an injury blow on last summer's Lions tour to South Africa as the Blues youngster was forced to withdraw because of a recurrence of a thigh problem.

Halfpenny has endured a difficult second season and scored only once for the Blues this season.

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