Taranaki Daily News

Cane starts road to recovery

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They are only baby steps but All Blacks star Sam Cane is making giant strides in his recovery from a horror neck injury.

Cane’s place in the All Blacks World Cup squad has been placed in jeopardy following a shocking neck injury suffered in the All Blacks 32-30 victory over the Springboks in Pretoria back on October 7 last year.

Cane, who has played in 60 tests since his All Blacks debut in 2012, required surgery to save him from paralysis, after fracturing in a vertebra on the lower right side of his neck.

But just days out from his 27th birthday, Cane has taken to social media to reveal he is now free from the neck brace, that gripped his neck for around 12 weeks, and has begun jogging.

Cane said he appreciate­d the messages of support and that he was enjoying getting back into rehabilita­tion and some light strength and conditioni­ng work.

Cane, who remained in hospital in South Africa to have surgery as the All Blacks returned home, said getting back into training was much needed after ‘‘grazing in a pretty good paddock’’ over the last three months.

Cane, who has been the regular All Blacks No 7 since Richie McCaw’s retirement in 2015, said late last year that he hoped to be back for the final stages of the Chiefs’ 2019 Super Rugby campaign.

At the time of the injury, All Blacks doctor Tony Page said Cane hadn’t suffered any nerve damage – something that could have caused long-term problems – and the Chiefs openside flanker admitted he was lucky to be in a position where he was expected to make a full recovery in time for the World Cup in Japan in September.

 ??  ?? Sam Cane is jogging again for the first time since a horror injury in October.
Sam Cane is jogging again for the first time since a horror injury in October.

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