Pat McCutcheon was injured in the Waratahs' loss to the Highlanders © Getty Images

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Waratahs flanker Pat McCutcheon has been ruled out for the remainder of the Super Rugby campaign due to a serious injury.

The 24-year-old openside suffered a fracture-dislocation of his left ankle in New South Wales' loss to the Highlanders on Saturday and will now undergo surgery before a six-month lay-off.

A former Australian Sevens representative, McCutcheon has been hampered by injury since being drafted in by the 'Tahs in 2010 and now faces an uncertain future as his current deal expires at the end of the campaign.

''That's my season gone,'' McCutcheon told The Sydney Morning Herald. ''It's disappointing missing the first two rounds with a minor calf injury and then getting the opportunity to start and to play was a real privilege, and to go out on that note and be gone for the season is very disappointing. Although it physically hurts, it hurts you more mentally than anything else.''

Waratahs doctor Sharon Flahive compared the injury to one suffered by Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell last season.

''It's a fracture dislocation of his ankle,'' she said. ''He'll see a doctor when we get back and he'll have surgery Monday. It's six months. It's similar to Drew Mitchell's injury, except that he has the fracture on the side, which Drew didn't have. It's the exact sort of thing just a slightly different picture."