Damien Welch out indefinitely with pectoral injury

Exeter have lost the services of lock Damian Welch is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a pectoral injury.

The 33-year-old's injury is the fourth long-term injury Exeter's have suffered this term, following shortly after Henry Slade's broken leg, Luke Cowan-Dickie's thumb fracture and a knee problem for Dave Ewers.

Exeter have stormed out of the gates to second place in the Aviva Premiership table courtesy of six wins in their first seven matches in 2015/16, but must now contend with a growing injury list.

"Damian is looking like he is out long-term, which is unfortunate," said Exeter's head coach Rob Baxter.

Welch injured his pectoral during Exeter's 42-10 Champions Cup defeat at Clermont Auvergne on December 20.

And Baxter has admitted the Chiefs must now play the waiting game to discover how long they must do without one of their pack's foundations.

"He's having an operation on his chest-pec area and we will know more of the details post-op," said Baxter.

"That is looking like that is it for a little while for him - it's more likely to be months rather than weeks."