Injured

Blues' Rieko Ioane to miss several weeks with injury

The All Blacks wing impressed with two tries in the 37-29 loss to the Chiefs on Friday, but is now expected to be out of action for several weeks.

The news will be a bitter pill to swallow for the 22-year-old, who looked to have rediscovered some of the dazzling form that eluded him through a challenging 2019 season.

News of the injury comes just days after reports of raucous parties at Ioane's Auckland home, where he and brother Akira Ioane - also a member of the Blues squad - were allegedly at the centre of noise complaints. 

Fatialofa staying in hospital

The former Hurricanes lock came off the bench in the 50th minute of Worcester's 62-5 defeat in the Premiership, and he suffered the injury almost immediately.

It led to a stoppage of around 15 minutes at Allianz Park to allow Fatialofa to be treated, before he was taken away on a stretcher and transported to hospital.

Worcester said in a statement on Sunday: "Warriors lock Michael Fatialofa will spend a second night in St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington where his condition continues to be assessed."

Nkosi suffers ankle injury

Nkosi impressed in his first three international appearances during the Springboks' series win over England in June, scoring two tries.

The 22-year-old returned to Super Rugby action with the Sharks but the team confirmed on Thursday that Nkosi has suffered a syndesmosis sprain in his left ankle, leaving him doubtful for South Africa's next international outing.

Nkosi is expected to miss up to three months with the injury, with the Sharks hopeful he could be back in eight weeks.

Williams out with knee injury

Williams aggravated an old knee injury this week and Blues medical staff said an x-ray yesterday showed a loose piece of bone in his knee joint.

He will undergo keyhole surgery later today in Auckland.

Blues medical staff expect that the second five-eighth will be unable to train for approximately four weeks.

The 32-year-old was due to assemble with the All Blacks squad next week to prepare for the first test against France - an update of his involvement from All Blacks management will be given on Monday.

Liam Squire out for six weeks

The unbeaten Southerners will be without All Black loose forward Liam Squire for up to six weeks because of injury.

Squire broke the thumb in his right hand during last night's 25-17 over the Crusaders in Dunedin.

The injury occurred in the first half and Squire was replaced by Elliot Dixon just before halftime.

A Highlanders statement said Squire, who has played 15 tests, will be side-lined for up to 6 weeks.

That will result in him missing games against the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Brumbies, Blues and Bulls.

Vunipola suffers fractured arm

The back-row only returned from a three-month spell on the sidelines with a knee injury in the Premiership victory against Wasps last weekend and suffered another cruel setback at the Liberty Stadium.

Vunipola was replaced at half-time in the Champions Cup clash, which ended 15-15, and Saracens on Sunday revealed that an X-ray showed he had fractured his forearm, just three weeks before England start the defence of their Six Nations title against Italy in Rome.

Vunipola back in October

The barnstorming number eight missed the British and Irish Lions tour due to the injury, having returned from a four-month layoff due to a knee problem in March.

Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall confirmed the England international is not scheduled to return until October, although he did not rule out Vunipola playing before then.

"He's in great condition at the moment and chomping at the bit," McCall said.

"Billy's due back some time in October, but in true Billy style he'll make it back considerably before that. 

Bok captain out for 6 weeks

Eben Etzebeth will continue as the Springboks stand-in captain for the Rugby Championship.

The 26-year-old lock had already replaced Whiteley as skipper for the last of the three tests against France in June when the loose forward was ruled out of action with a groin injury.

Whiteley is not likely to be back before the end of September, which means Etzebeth could be captain for at least five of the six Springbok fixtures in this year's southern hemisphere championship, starting with the home clash against Argentina in Port Elizabeth on August 19th.

Whiteley out for up to eight weeks

The Lions number eight led the Springboks to victory over France in the first two Tests after being named as captain by Allister Coetzee last month.

Whiteley missed the win over Les Bleus in the third Test last Saturday, though, after doing damage during the warm-up at Ellis Park.

Coetzee revealed after his side sealed a whitewash over Guy Noves' men that his skipper would discover the extent of his injury on Monday and it was confirmed on Tuesday that he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with damaged ligaments.

Crotty to miss Crusaders game against Lions

The 28-year-old Crotty, who was expected to be named in Steve Hansen's All Blacks squad for the three-test series on Thursday, suffered rib cartilage damage in the Crusaders' 25-22 win over the Highlanders on Saturday.

Initial assessments suggested he could be out for at least two weeks but the Crusaders' assistant coach Jason Ryan said they needed to check a scan before they could determine the extent of the injury.

"It will be a case-by-case thing," Ryan said. "Cartilages can be pretty niggly, especially when you are sneezing or coughing.