All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu will sit out the rest of the international rugby season after rupturing a chest muscle in the Tri Nations match against South Africa at the weekend.
Mealamu left the field late in the All Blacks' 19-31 defeat in Durban on Sunday morning, clutching his chest.
All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said today Mealamu underwent an MRI scan in Auckland yesterday which confirmed a ruptured major tendon on the left side of his chest.
"It's incredibly disappointing for Keven but he is in a positive frame of mind and will undergo surgery on Friday," Robinson said.
Surgery was usually recommended for complete tears of the pectoralis major tendon.
Mealamu would be out of rugby for a minimum of four months, ruling him out of the remainder of the Tri Nations as well as the All Blacks' end of year tour, she said.
A number of All Blacks who have returned from South Africa will be available for selection for their Air NZ Cup provincial teams this weekend and the following weekend.
Players available for selection for the next two weeks are Luke McAlister (who has been named on the bench for North Harbour's match against Tasman on Friday night), Aled de Malmanche and Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Bryn Evans (Hawke's Bay), Cory Jane (Wellington), John Afoa (Auckland) and Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty).
Kieran Read (Canterbury), Jason Eaton (Taranaki) and Piri Weepu, Neemia Tialata and Rodney So'oialo (Wellington) will be available for round three matches.
The All Blacks will hold a one-day training camp in Auckland next Wednesday before assembling in Sydney on August 16 to prepare for the Tri Nations/Bledisloe Cup test against Australia Aug 22.
- NZPA
