Caucaunibuca faces lengthy rugby absence

Toulouse's Fiji winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca will miss most of the remaining French Top 14 season after undergoing knee surgery, his club manager Guy Noves announced on Wednesday. "You can say that the rest of his season has been compromised," Noves said, adding that the operation had taken place "three or four weeks ago". Caucaunibuca has seen only a handful of minutes of Top 14 action this season, appearing briefly in his club's opening defeat by Bayonne in August. After that game, 'Caucau' -- who has suffered from weight, drug and disciplinary problems -- was reported to have sustained a thigh injury. In May, the Fijian flyer, whose off-pitch problems have been counter-balanced by devastating performances both in attack and defence, signed a contract extension to keep him at Toulouse until the end of this season. The 31-year-old originally joined from rival French outfit Agen at the start of last season as a temporary replacement for the injured Yann David.