Warburton’s surgery is a pain in neck
possible appearances for his country thanks to Lions commitments or injuries.
Warburton’s absence clears the way for the Ospreys’ Justin Tipuric to take over in the No7 shirt, but the Welsh back-row cupboard is looking bare, with Ellis Jenkins also out for about 12 weeks with a hamstring problem.
Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty is also struggling because of the back injury that curtailed his Lions tour, and the Scarlets’ James Davies is definitely out after shoulder surgery.
That could mean a call-up for Wasps’ Thomas Young, who won his first two caps on Wales’ summer trip to New Zealand and Samoa but has missed the start of the Premiership with a calf tear.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland is also waiting for Dan Lydiate to come back after nine months on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.
Meanwhile, England’s leading referee Wayne Barnes has claimed the new laws being tested this season will make the game easier on the eye for fans.
The most significant revolve around the scrum and breakdown and have seen 75 tries scored in the first two rounds of the Premiership.
Barnes said: “We are trying to make the game more understandable and make sure the ball is in play more.
“It’s a technical game but if we can make it a bit simpler, that is going to be better for the game.”