Wallabies five-eighth Noah Lolesio is in major doubt for the British and Irish Lions Test series due to the neck whiplash injury suffered in Australia’s win over Fiji in Newcastle.

Lolesio was taken from the field on a medicab in a neck brace after being injured when tackled in the second half, and was later taken to Newcastle Hospital.

The Wallabies released a statement on Sunday night saying Lolesio had been discharged and “cleared of significant damage” and would be monitored.

But, the severity of the neck injury has been greater than initially thought, according to informed sources, and Lolesio was due to see a specialist in Brisbane on Monday, with the chance that the 25-year-old could require surgery.

It was the second neck injury for Lolesio in nine weeks, after the Brumbies playmaker was taken to hospital in Perth in early May after being rolled awkwardly in a ruck against the Western Force. A few weeks after that injury, Lolesio was given the all-clear and returned to the field.

The news leaves the Wallabies in a crisis ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on July 19, with only one fit five-eighth in the existing squad named to play Fiji: Ben Donaldson.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will name his squad for the Lions series on Friday.

Tom Lynagh was also named in the squad but did not train fully with the Wallabies in Newcastle. He is still recovering from a broken hand suffered while playing for the Reds in the Super Rugby finals.