All Blacks and Gallagher Chiefs tighthead prop Nepo Laulala has been ruled out of all rugby for 2016 with a knee injury.
He sustained the injury during a team training session on Friday afternoon. Scans have revealed that Laulala has torn three ligaments in his right knee; the ACL, PCLand MCL.
He will undergo knee reconstruction surgery in the near future. The expected recovery time is 12 months ruling 24-year-old Laulala out of all rugby for 2016.
"It's obviously very disappointing to have injured my knee and be unable to play for the Gallagher Chiefs for a while, but I'll be back real soon! Once I'm through surgery, I'll be working hard to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible so I can get back out on the rugby field. Though I'm unable to play for a little while, I'll be supporting the boys and doing as much as I can for the team," Laulala said.
Dominic Bird will sit out the first 10 weeks of Investec Super Rugby after fracturing his right foot. The 24-year-old lock was injured during training on Monday.
"It's not the start to the season I was hoping for, it's as frustrating as ever, like any injury. I'm looking at 10 weeks of recovery so I'll be doing what I can to get the rest of my body right in the meantime. I'll still be chipping in with a lot of line-out stuff with the boys and helping the team however I can," Bird said.
