Felipe Contepomi will miss Leinster's Heineken Cup final clash with Leicester Tigers after he suffered a knee injury in the semi-final win over Munster.
 
The Argentine tore cruciate ligaments and is expected to be out of the game for six months or thereabouts.
 
"I am sad, but I want to face this as positively as possible," Contepomi told the La Nacion newspaper.
 
As well as the Heineken Cup final in Murrayfield on May 23rd, the 31-year-old will miss a number of international matches including a double-header against England.
 
"I only want to be calm to plan what to do, how to sort out the surgery. I know I will not be the first or the last player to suffer this injury," added the 31-year-old.
 
"To miss the (Heineken Cup) final and what was coming at the Pumas is painful, but I know I cannot help this.
 
"The aim is to do everything to get over this and be stronger when I return.
 
"I will miss important matches, but I will be back in October, so it will not be so bad considering the time of the year this injury comes."
Contepomi will move to Toulon in the summer after six years with the Irish province.