Richie McCaw hurt, to have surgery

Richie McCaw. Photo / AP

All Black captain Richie McCaw has a foot injury and will miss up to six weeks of the Super 15 rugby season.

McCaw has sustained a stress fracture in his right foot.

He developed pain in his foot by doing a yo-yo running test at Rugby Park in Christchurch on Monday last week.

A scan late last week confirmed he has a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot.

"The injury is obviously disappointing, but it's not likely to be one that will bother me in the long term. I'll have the operation and then get on with my rehab and look forward to turning out for the Crusaders when I'm given the all-clear by the medical staff," McCaw said.

The 30-year-old had been scheduled make his return for the Crusaders on March 4 against the Waratahs after sitting out the first two rounds of the Super 15.

He met with a surgeon in Christchurch today and has been booked in for surgery to insert a small screw into the bone.

Metatarsal injuries have been common among footballers in the English Premier League with Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard both suffering an injury to the fifth metatarsal in 2004. Gerrard was out for 10 weeks while Rooney spent 14 weeks on the sidelines.

Crusaders midfield back Sonny Bill Williams is also hampered by a stress fracture to his fibula on his left leg.

Kieran Reid will captain the Crusaders in McCaw's absence.

The expanded Super 15 starts February 18 with the Crusaders due to play the Auckland Blues in the first round.