Rugby league legend Graham Lowe goes under the surgeon's knife next week for his second heart bypass operation.

Lowe, 63, newly appointed chief executive of the Manly Sea Eagles rugby league club in Sydney, collapsed at Auckland Airport earlier this week.

He was apparently ill with a virus but doctors found he needed urgent heart surgery and he will have a double bypass in Auckland next week.

Scott Penn, the chairman of the Manly club, said Lowe had no symptoms of heart disease when he collapsed.

"The virus caused him to feel unwell and that has probably put a bit more pressure on his system," he told NZPA.

It was probably fortunate the virus may have caused him to collapse and his heart condition was found after tests, in time to be fixed.

Lowe had a triple bypass about 16 years ago.

Penn said they expected Lowe would need about six weeks to recover before he started his new job, but that may change.

"The most important thing for us right now is his health and getting his health right.

"That is something we will review after the surgery to see where he is at.

"There are still some unknowns. It is a significant surgery and everyone is aware of that."

He said even with the latest news on Lowe's health he was convinced the board had made the right decision to hire him. During his earlier spell as coach of the club in the early 1990s Lowe had serious health problems, including blood clots and a brain haemorrhage.

An urgent, informal board meeting was held at the club on Thursday soon after the club was told of the surgery.

"The board is fully supportive. The board was unanimous in the appointment in the first place. We are not about to drop him now. We want him on board."

He said the club "picked the right man and we are hoping we can get him in the chair as soon as possible but we also need to make sure we can get him back in the right health".

He said Lowe had been part of the Manly family for 20 years.

Lowe said after his appointment was announced last month it was his dream job and he had some unfinished business at the club

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