All Blacks and Blues centre Sonny Bill Williams has been ruled out for several weeks with a knee injury which means he will miss the three-Test series against France.

Williams aggravated an old injury this week and Blues medical staff said an X-ray on Thursday showed a loose piece of bone in his knee joint. He will undergo keyhole surgery today in Auckland.

Blues medical staff expect that Williams will be unable to train for around four weeks and he has withdrawn from the Blues team for Saturday’s Super Rugby encounter with the Melbourne Rebels in Auckland.

Replacement Terrence Hepetema will now start in the midfield alongside Orbyn Leger.

Williams was due to assemble with the All Blacks squad next week to prepare for the Test against France. An update from All Blacks management will be given on Monday.