Aaron Jarvis was in obvious discomfort on Saturday © PA Photos

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Players/Officials: Aaron Jarvis

Tournaments/Tours: RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Ospreys | Wales

The Ospreys and Wales have been hit by a massive blow with the news that tight-head Aaron Jarvis will not play again this season.

Jarvis suffered a knee injury in the opening minutes of Saturday's Test between Wales and New Zealand and was immediately stretchered off. Jarvis was relatively new to the Test scene as he only made his debut for Wales in the first of their autumn internationals against Argentina and started against Samoa before facing New Zealand.

Ospreys physio Chris Towers confirmed the severe nature of Jarvis' injury saying: "Aaron suffered a significant ligament injury to his right knee in the Wales v New Zealand game on Saturday. He is going to require surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season. We are currently in discussions with specialists to establish the best surgical option and timing of the surgery to ensure the best outcome."

The news means that the Ospreys now have to cope without three of their premier props. Adam Jones is currently sidelined while Joe Rees is out for a "lengthy period of time" after undergoing neck surgery this week. And following Jarvis' injury, Ospreys chief operating officer Andrew Hore claimed that it is time to look towards a global season to try and battle player fatigue.

"We have now lost three senior tight heads in the space of just a month, which is particularly bad news for us, coming at a time when our resources have already been badly hit through injury and just before our biggest games of the season so far, the back-to-back Heineken Cup matches against Toulouse," Hore said. "The current season structure sees games in the top European competition go straight into a month of test rugby, and then back into Europe and the Welsh derbies, for a crucial month long period in December and January.

"Looking at the players we have lost through injury in recent weeks it's clear that the structure isn't working, for the national body nor the regional partners, and it needs to be looked at globally. If ever there was a time which perfectly highlights the need for a structured, global season which protects our biggest assets, the players, and increases the value of domestic rugby by ensuring showpiece matches are played with the strongest squad available then this is it."