Rugby: McAlister's domestic season over

Luke McAlister rolled his ankle while training with North Harbour yesterday, putting a premature end to his Air NZ Cup season. Photo / Dean Purcell

Luke McAlister's fortunes have taken another turn for the worse after the All Black midfielder suffered an Air NZ Cup rugby season-ending ankle injury at North Harbour training yesterday.

Depending on the severity of the injury, it could also put him in doubt for next month's end of year tour with the All Blacks.

An x-ray on his swollen ankle revealed no break and pointed more to tendon damage but until he went for an MRI scan tomorrow, the extent of the injury would remain unknown.

"It was one of those freak injuries," North Harbour coach Craig Dowd said last night.

"Luke was walking in after finishing a drill, rolled his ankle and didn't land very well.

"It swelled up pretty quickly and he was in a lot of pain.

"Our first concern was he had broken it ... it was x-rayed and he must have done some tendon damage or whatever.

"But we won't know any more until Wednesday until he gets an MRI scan to see exactly what damage he has done.

"He is definitely out for at least two weeks and as far as North Harbour is concerned (with just two rounds left to the regular season), his season is over."

McAlister had been sidelined for six weeks with a broken cheekbone and returned to action only last weekend, starring in North Harbour's 28-7 win over Bay of Plenty.

- NZPA