Ulster prop John Afoa is to undergo surgery to repair a torn tricep tendon in his left arm.

The All Blacks tighthead is home in New Zealand and will undergo the operation in Auckland.

Afoa picked up the injury in the RaboDirect Pro12 final against Leinster last month and is expected to be sidelined for between 10 and 12 weeks.

That recovery timeline would see him available to Ulster in time for the start of the 2013/14 campaign.