Wales rugby union coach Warren Gatland suffered multiple fractures to his right heel bone and a fracture to his left heel after falling at his family beach house in New Zealand.
Kiwi Gatland was cleaning windows at his Waihi Beach house in the Bay of Plenty when he lost balance and fell 10 feet onto concrete, with his heels bearing the full impact.
The 48-year-old is in leg casts and will need surgery to reconstruct the right heel, delaying his return to Wales.
The Welsh Rugby Union said the injuries sustained were not expected to have any major impact on preparations for the Dragons' three test tour in Australia.
WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said: "We all wish Warren a speedy recovery from the injuries he has suffered in this extremely unfortunate accident.
"Knowing Warren as I do I can reassure the Welsh rugby public that he has diligently put the people and processes in place to ensure he stays closely linked to what is happening in the game back here in Wales.
"I have spoken to Warren on a number of occasions since his fall and have told him he will lead the tour to Australia unless anything unforeseen happens in the prognosis for recovery we are working to.". He is in leg casts and needs surgery to reconstruct the right heel, delaying his return to Wales.
Gatland has guided Wales to two Six Nations Grand Slam wins, the latest coming this year as well as in 2008.
He is also the frontrunner for the British and Irish Lions coach, when they tour Australia in 2013.