Rugby:Lee Byrne has been ruled out of Wales' autumn international campaign after suffering ligament damage in his right foot.

The Ospreys fullback limped off during Sunday’s 32-32 Heineken Cup draw at Leicester with a recurrence of the injury which forced him out of the Lions tour in the summer.

Byrne will be in plaster for six weeks before beginning a period of rehabilitation.

Wales will also be without the Ospreys lock Ian Evans, who has been sidelined for eight weeks after tearing his pec major tendon playing for Swansea against Pontypridd.

Wales’ autumn campaign starts against New Zealand on November 7th followed by games on successive weekends against Samoa, Argentina and Australia.

Ospreys physio Chris Tower said: “Lee was reviewed by a specialist last night, and he had a scan which has revealed ligament damage in his right foot.

“The problem is a fairly subtle issue, however, with the nature of the ligaments involved, there is no quick fix and to rush him back would be counter productive in the long term.

“He is essentially looking at a period of rest, in plaster, for approximately six weeks, followed by a period of rehabilitation to get him up and running and back on the field.”

Evans had only just returned from 10 months out with a knee injury.

Tower continued: “Ian Evans has suffered a tear of his pec major tendon and having discussed the injury with a specialist he is provisionally looking at an eight week lay-off, based on our knowledge of previous injuries of this nature.”