All Blacks Captain Ardie Savea to Have Shoulder Surgery, Return Date Uncertain
- New Zealand Rugby confirmed All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea requires surgery on a dislocated shoulder sustained during the Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks
- Savea has already been ruled out of the Bledisloe Cup Tests against the Wallabies, with his November Nations Championship involvement also in doubt
- New Zealand Rugby said a return-to-play timeframe will only be confirmed after Savea undergoes the operation
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All Blacks captain Ardie Savea will undergo surgery on a dislocated shoulder, with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) confirming no return date will be set until after the operation.
The 32-year-old suffered the injury during the second half of the third Greatest Rivalry Test against the Springboks at FNB Stadium in Soweto earlier this month. Savea was cleared out of a ruck during South Africa's 29-24 victory, forcing him off the field and ruling him out of the fourth and final Test in Baltimore, which the Springboks also won 43-28 to seal a 3-1 series triumph.
Savea's Comeback Timeline Unclear
NZR have confirmed that Savea's absence will extend beyond the upcoming Bledisloe Cup fixtures against the Wallabies in Auckland and Sydney next month. His availability for New Zealand's November Nations Championship Tests remains doubtful, given that shoulder surgery of this nature typically requires a rehabilitation period of around six months.
The governing body said a specific return-to-play target will only be communicated following the procedure.
Lengthy Injury List Hits All Blacks Squad
Savea is not alone in facing an extended spell on the sidelines. Fellow loose forward Luke Jacobson is expected to miss four to five months after undergoing surgery on an elbow tendon injury, while winger Caleb Clarke faces approximately five months out with a ruptured shoulder tendon.
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NZR's injury update also listed Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor as sidelined for four to six weeks each, while Quinn Tupaea, Anton Segner and Cortez Ratima are each expected to be out for one to two weeks following injuries picked up during the tour.
The cluster of injuries represents a significant challenge for All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie as New Zealand prepares for the next phase of their international calendar.
Source: Briefly News
