Patrick Tuipulotu, captain of the Blues and a prominent figure in the All Blacks team, disclosed on Monday that he anticipates a recovery period of approximately 10 weeks due to a fractured jaw.
This injury, incurred during a pre-season match against Sungoliath in Tokyo, arose from an accidental collision with a teammate during a line-out towards the end of the first half.
Tuipulotu, who has represented New Zealand in 43 Tests, expressed his disappointment at the timing of the injury, which will necessitate surgical intervention.
He ruefully described the incident as “friendly fire,” emphasizing the unintentional nature of the clash. The setback means he will miss the commencement of the Super Rugby Pacific season, delaying his milestone 100th appearance in the competition.
Blues head coach Vern Cotter lamented the loss of Tuipulotu, especially given its occurrence early in the season. The Blues’ upcoming pre-season fixture against the Eagles in Japan will proceed without their influential lock, with their Super Rugby campaign set to kick off against Fijian Drua on February 24 in Whangerei.
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