Rugby: Schwalger set to miss Hurricanes season

John Schwalger will miss most of the Super Rugby season. Photo / Getty Images

Hurricanes prop John Schwalger has sustained further blood clots on his lungs and has been ruled out for a majority of this year's Super Rugby campaign.

The former All Black first suffered the ailment, originally believed to be a chest infection, last year and played only six games for the Hurricanes. He also skipped Wellington's dismal ITM Cup campaign.

Schwalger was primed for a return this season but after he got the flu last month, which left him bedridden for five days, the clots returned and he isn't allowed any contact until June. The medication he takes to help thin out his blood puts him at greater risk of suffering cuts or bruises.

The clots generally form in Schwalger's legs and can spread when he is dormant or on an aeroplane.

"I was looking forward to jamming with the Hurricanes and playing with Ma'a [Nonu] one last time," Schwalger said.

"It sucks, to be honest. When I found out the second time I was close to breaking down but once I saw the specialist he gave me a bit of hope which is something for me to look forward to. So now we've got to have a plan that once I do come off the medicine and I'm all good, we've just got to get it sorted before it ever makes its way up to my lungs."

Schwalger, 31, returned to the Hurricanes in 2013 after two years in France with Augen and is off-contract at the end of this season.

He said his goal was to play the final two games of the Super Rugby season in June, although that could extend if the Hurricanes were to make the playoffs.

"It sucks but you can only do so much to put yourself back on that field and I'll do anything to get back there."

A player of Schwalger's experience would be in demand at any provincial union and he doesn't have a contract for this year's ITM Cup.

The loss of Schwalger means wider training group prop Mike Kainga may push in to the full squad and the Hurricanes will need to find cover from somewhere, although props are always in short supply.

Meanwhile, Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said his players were tracking well towards their first pre-season game of the year against the Crusaders in Eketahuna on January 31.

Following that hit-out they play the Blues in Auckland on Waitangi Day before they depart for South Africa where they open their campaign with two games and a meeting with the Western Force in Perth on the way home.

"There's a really small window of opportunity to impress so there will be some guys who go in to that first game [against the Crusaders] knowing that if they have a blinder, they can force their way on to the plane for Africa and if they don't, they probably won't," Boyd said.

The Hurricanes head to Gisborne for a week on Saturday and their All Blacks will join them after enjoying an extended break.

Only rookie lock Christian Lloyd (knee) won't be considered for selection in the early stages of the season proper.