Worcester Warriors are looking to receive monetary compensation as a result of the injury-enforced absence of Francois Hougaard.
Hougaard returned from Springbok duty in October with a shoulder injury, which subsequently ruled him out of action for three months.
Although Hougaard is said to be ahead of schedule in terms of his rehabilitation, Warriors chief executive Jim O'Toole has confirmed they are in the process of finalising a compensation payment.
'Francois Hougaard came back from South Africa carrying an injury, which he suffered during his campaign with them and we've had to pick up the pieces from that,' he told BBC Sport.
'It has been disappointing to lose one of your top players, and one of your highest paid players too, for such a long period. He's a freak of nature, in terms of his rehabilitation, and we're hoping he's back a little bit earlier than originally anticipated.
'But we're working with our friends at the South African Rugby Union and World Rugby under regulation nine to make sure that we get compensation.'
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