New Zealand will be without the services of centre Richard Kahui for their June Tests against Ireland and Wales.
Kahui sustained rib cartilage damage while playing in the Chiefs’ defeat to New South Wales Waratahs and it will take three more weeks to fully recover following an examination by team doctors on Wednesday.
“While I’m obviously disappointed, I just need to get on with my rehabilitation,” Kahui said.
“At the moment I can’t do contact training or much upper body training but I can still work on skills and other parts of my game during this time.”
All Blacks coach Graham Henry had planned to use Kahui at inside centre after Ma’a Nonu was ruled out of the June series with a knee injury.
Kahui joins Ali Williams (Achilles), Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), Andrew Hore (shoulder), Mike Delany (shoulder), Isaia Toeava (hip) and Jason Eaton (knee) on the ever-mounting injury list.
Ireland face the All Blacks on 12 June in New Plymouth.
