All Black and Highlanders lock James Ryan will be out of rugby for about six months because of a significant shoulder injury.
Ryan, who made his All Black debut last year, will have corrective surgery on his left shoulder next week and Highlanders coach Greg Cooper said recovery time was likely to be about six months.
‘It’s a big blow to us as a team and obviously to James personally,’ Cooper said. ‘It’s an extremely disappointing thing to happen to a young man with such a promising career. But I know James and I have no doubt he’ll be back and raring to go as soon as he can.’
No replacement for the Highlanders has been named yet.
