March 12 (Reuters) – Auckland Blues’ hopes of winning
this season’s Super Rugby tournament were dealt a heavy blow on
Monday when loose forward Jerome Kaino was ruled out for the
rest of the season because of a shoulder injury.
The powerful back rower, who is expected to be out for six
months, will need surgery after a bone fragment was knocked off
his shoulder joint in the Blues’ loss to Waikato Chiefs in the
second round of fixtures.
Kaino was already carrying a slight injury to the left
shoulder and after taking the blow he continued to play, not
realising the severity of the issue.
“I’m gutted,” Kaino said in a statement. “I really didn’t
think this was going to take me out of the whole Blues season,”
Auckland have had a slow start to the season but picked up
their first win of the championship on Saturday in South Africa
against the Bulls following two losses to New Zealand rivals
Waikato and Canterbury Crusaders.
The three-times winners face the Stormers in South Africa on
Friday.
“Jerome is a great player and brings a lot to the Blues on
and off the field,” coach Pat Lam said.
“This is a real blow for him and I know, like us, he is
really disappointed that he won’t be playing this season with
the team. All of us wish him well for the surgery on Wednesday.”
The loss of Kaino, who played in every match of New
Zealand’s successful World Cup campaign last year, could also
prove a problem for the All Blacks.
Continued…
