Leigh Halfpenny could yet return to playing before the end of the season according to club coach Bernard Laporte.
The Wales full-back has been out of action since last September when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing in a World Cup warm-up clash against Italy.
As a result he missed the whole of the World Cup campaign, as well as the RBS 6 Nations in which Wales finished second.
Earlier this month it had been reported that Halfpenny might not be able to play again this season, but Laporte is now optimistic that 27-year-old will yet feature.
Laporte explained that Halfpenny had undergone an operation on his meniscus, following the previous operation on his ACL.
According to the Midi Olympique, Laporte said: “We hope to have him back before the end of the season because it’s just a little operation on his meniscus following his operation on his cruciate ligament.
“We’ve been told that by the end of May he should be able to get back playing.”
Toulon currently sit third in the Top 14 and are on course to reach the play-offs in early June, with Halfpenny potentially in line to return before the end of the regular season.
