By CHRIS RATTUE
Counties-Manukau have suffered a blow to their NPC campaign with Lee Lidgard about to sign with an Italian club.
Lidgard will join the Viadana club, under his old Counties-Manukau coach Mac McCallion, near Parma, in northern Italy.
Lidgard has been out of action for nearly two seasons because of a
serious neck injury, but the former Blues and Chiefs Super 12 prop was ready to return for this year's NPC.
The 33-year-old Lidgard has played 89 games for the province. He could have been a vital presence in what has been an area of inexperience and weakness for the Steelers in the past few seasons.
McCallion had installed Lidgard as his captain before injury struck early in the 1999 NPC season.
Counties-Manukau coach Andrew Talaimanu said: "It's a big loss for us. We'll be looking at how our local props go in the pre-season games, but if they're not up to it, we might have to look elsewhere."
Lidgard joins a list of Steelers who have headed overseas. It includes Errol Brain, Glen and Tony Marsh, and Api Naevo.
Former Steelers now with other unions include Jonah Lomu, Joeli Vidiri, George Leaupepe and Pita Alatini.
Counties-Manukau have their opening warm-up match against King Country at Pukekohe next Wednesday.
Lidgard was among the 32 players named to prepare for that match, but Talaimanu said there was now no point in including him in warm-up games.
