Blues captain Jerome Kaino will miss his team’s Super Rugby season opening match against the Highlanders due to a ban.
Kaino has been given a one week ban for punching Chiefs prop Pauliasi Manu in a Super Rugby warm up match at Pukekohe.
The All Blacks flanker swung his right arm and connected with Chiefs prop Pauliasi Manu’s eye as he was trying to free himself in a maul.
Kaino pleaded his case to New Zealand Rugby and apologised for the incident but was unable to avoid a ban.
The two time world cup winner was shown a red card in the match but it did not prevent the Blues from winning the match 24-12.
The Blues won all three of their warm ups under new coach Tana Umaga.
