Timing is everything in rugby and at the start of this year's Super Rugby season, Crusaders fullback David Havili seemed to have it nailed.
The three test All Black was arguably the form player of the competition and as with last year, was again logging big minutes for the defending
champions. But off-field timing, or more significantly, off-field health suddenly deserted the 25-year-old Tasman Skipper.
An infection saw Havili hospitalised with surgery to remove 20 centimetres from his bowel.
Fast forward two months and the versatile back says he is slowly building his training load, and rebuilding his body.
"I lost about nine kgs and went down to 86, but I've been able to put about five back on," he said. "It's been seven weeks since post-surgery and I've just been able to start lifting weights again in the last two weeks."
