Tasman No 8 Jordan Taufua is headed for a well-earned rest following on operation on his broken left arm in the wake of Saturday's Mitre 10 Cup rugby final.
Tasman lost 35-13 to Canterbury in Saturday's premiership decider in Christchurch, with Taufua having to be replaced in the 41st minute after suffering what appeared to be a broken arm in the game's opening minutes.
Tasman Rugby Union chief executive Tony Lewis confirmed that Taufua had an operation on Sunday and that he could be out of action for up to 12 weeks.
However, Lewis said that the injury might also be a blessing for Taufua after the rugged No 8 had taken plenty of physical punishment during Tasman's premiership campaign.
"It might be a good thing as now Jordan can have a well-earned rest after continually putting his body on the line throughout the season," Lewis said.
Lewis didn't believe the injury would have any real impact on Taufua's commitments with the Crusaders who didn't reassemble until January in their quest for back to back Super Rugby titles.
"It's a chance now for Jordan to get his body right and the rest will do him good. He's one hell of a rugby player and one hell of a human being."
Despite injuring his arm in the first half, Taufua refused to buckle and kept playing for as long as possible before being ordered to exit the action.
"He would live and die out there for the team, the province, " Tasman captain Alex Ainley said in reference to Taufua.
"And he had to be dragged off the field. That was what happened in the end, when the doctor pulled him off the park. I don't think it was his say."
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES (Caption: Jordan Taufua, right, chats with Canterbury star and Crusaders team-mate Richie Mo'unga after Saturday's final)