Rugby: Viljoen may miss shield match for Northland

A training injury has handed Northland their first hiccup in the lead-up to the Ranfurly Shield match against Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday.

South African halfback Joggie Viljoen went down with a painful leg early on in the session in Whangarei and was forced to seek medical treatment immediately for what at first appeared to be a serious injury.

Medical staff later said Viljoen's injury appeared to be confined to muscle damage only, with no evidence of stress or pain in the knee ligaments.

The injury may open the door for former New Zealand Colt Sammy Pinder to make a start for Northland for the first time this season.