WORCESTER Warriors back-row forward GJ van Velze will miss the rest of this season and the start of the next after undergoing successful surgery on a dislocated shoulder. 

The club confirmed today that the South-African will be out of action for around three months due to the injury he sustained in the defeat to Exeter Chiefs last month.

Warriors also face an anxious wait on the extent of vice-club captain Will Butler's ankle injury that he endured at Bath last week. 

The 22-year-old centre was stretchered from the pitch in the first-half of the 40-15 loss and was later seen that evening in a protective boot. 

He will see a specialist at the end of next month for the second time this season after enduring a similar injury, again at Bath, almost a year ago in the Premiership Rugby Cup.