Tom Rees faces up to possibility of more surgery

Tom Rees will discover today if he needs further surgery on the shoulder injury that has left him a frustrated spectator for the opening month of the Guinness Premiership season.

The Wasps captain suffered a labral tear to his right shoulder against Bristol in April and underwent surgery after being ruled out of the summer Lions tour to South Africa and was expected to be back in action in September.

However, Rees is still dealing with pain in the shoulder forcing him to return for another consultation with the surgeon who operated on the England flanker.

Rees said: "It is incredibly frustrating and that is why I am going to see the surgeon and further surgery is a possibility.

"However, it may be that I have to just get on with things and accept that a certain amount of pain is just normal for the shoulder."

Rees is just one of a number of leading players dealing with shoulder surgery including fellow England internationals Delon Armitage and Riki Flutey plus the exciting Jordan Turner-Hall.

Meanwhile, Harlequins have agreed to release Springbok hooker Gary Botha early from his contract in order for him to return to South Africa with his family after Saturday's game with Bath.