The All Blacks halfback was left clutching his left knee after being hit hard in a tackle by Highlanders opposite James Arscott. Roigard had tidied up a loose ball and was looking for a pass as Arscott made a dominant tackle from Roigard’s blindside.
As the ensuing ruck dispersed following the call of a knock-on, Roigard remained on the turf with a look of anguish on his face. Medical staff were quick to get onto the pitch and assessed the injury before the star half was taken from the field on a medicab, the game resuming after about a seven-minute delay.
It’s a big loss for the Hurricanes as Roigard has started 2024 in the same vein of form he held throughout 2023 and has been a key part of their offence.
It’s a blow, too, for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, with Roigard expected to be part of his plans for the July test series against England and the Rugby Championship.
Roigard made his test debut off the bench against the Wallabies in Melbourne last year before playing three matches at the Rugby World Cup in France.
