Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper will be sidelined for up to 12 weeks after fracturing his collarbone at Queensland Reds training on Thursday.

The 26-year-old missed four months last year due to an AC joint injury and the fracture occurred around the previous operation site.

He will undergo surgery on Tuesday with a Reds media statement on Friday night saying he would be out for “10-12 weeks”.

Cooper said the setback was hard to take.

“I’m gutted to be missing the start of the season,” he said.

“But injury setbacks are something you learn to deal with and this isn’t the first time I’ve had to come back from something like this.

“There’s a lot of excitement among the group for the season, so it’s good motivation for me to give myself every chance of getting back on the field as soon as possible.”

Reds head coach Richard Graham added: “It’s disappointing to lose Quade to such an innocuous collision during an opposed training session, but this is the nature of contact sport.

“Fortunately, we’ve recruited well in the off-season and we’re comfortable we have a number of options available to us.”