ROOKIE Worcester Warriors prop Gareth Milasinovich has ruptured his achilles tendon and will be out of action for “a significant time”.

The 23-year-old South African suffered the injury in last Saturday’s 50-12 Aviva Premiership defeat against high-flying Exeter Chiefs.

Milasinovich had come on as a replacement for James Johnston and was treated by the medical staff before being carried off on a stretcher.

The young academy prop gave a “thumbs up” to the Sandy Park crowd before he was taken down the tunnel.

Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan confirmed the extent of Milasinovich’s injury today.

“He’s ruptured his achilles and so he will be out for a significant time," said Ryan.

“The scrum collapsed because he ruptured his achilles.

“He (Milasinovich) was under a huge amount of pressure and his achilles went and that’s what collapsed the scrum.”

The prop made four Premiership appearances - all as a replacement - for Warriors after arriving last summer from the University of Johannesburg.

Warriors have a break before returning to Premiership duty against third-placed Wasps at Sixways on Saturday, April 16 (3pm).

It will be a busy time for the club’s physiotherapists because Ryan confirmed South African centre Wynand Olivier had suffered a “hamstring strain”.

He added skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze was taken off at Exeter due to a foot problem.

However, Ryan allayed injury fears over full-back Chris Pennell and fly-half Tom Heathcote who were replaced before the final whistle at Sandy Park.

“Wynand (Olivier) has got a hamstring strain which we will evaluate over these next two weeks,” said Ryan.

“We don’t know the extent yet to be honest. In the first few days, it’s difficult to tell.

“GJ has got an issue around his foot so we are hoping this period gives us a chance to get him back.”

Ryan added: “Tommy (Heathcote) and Chris (Pennell) were both hurt but there was also an element of protecting them.

“If you added those to GJ, Wynand and Millsy (Ryan Mills) we would be dealing with a very different team.

“Part of the decision to take them off was after accepting we weren’t going to win the game and to protect some of our assets. There isn’t any real concern over them (Heathcote and Pennell).”