The Waratahs and Wallabies will be without their first choice fullback for the next five months after Mat Rogers was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Rogers was operated on on Tuesday morning after aggravating a high ankle sprain in the Waratahs' 38-27 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria on the weekend.

"I'm absolutely shattered," said Rogers, who missed the round four game against the Stormers because of the injury.

"I believe I was playing the best football of my career and there is so much potential in this team, it's just devastating to think my season is over.

"The surgeon has assured me that playing last week was not the reason I had a screw inserted in my ankle today.

"My focus now is getting fit again, returning through club rugby and having a shot at making the end of season tour (to Europe)."

The return of Matt Burke for the Waratahs provides the simplest option at fullback for NSW coach Ewen McKenzie when his side plays the Chiefs on Saturday but Wallabies coach Eddie Jones may well look further afield when it comes to the Australian team.

Queensland's Chris Latham - who was largely ignored during the World Cup, and Brumbies No.15 Joe Roff will come under close consideration for the national team for Tests against Scotland and England as well as the Tri Nations series.

The loss of Rogers - who played six of the seven World Cup matches at fullback - is a major blow with the former league international one of the Waratahs' most consistent players so far this season.

Jones said Rogers was developing some subtleties to his game and would be suitably missed.

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