Confirmed: Jordie ruled out

The Hurricanes have finally ruled fullback Jordie Barrett out of Sunday’s much-awaited Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Blues.

A day after word got out that Barrett was struggling with a shoulder injury, the club confirmed yesterday that the All Blacks utility would miss the clash with older brother Beauden in Auckland.

A Hurricanes spokesman said Barrett’s shoulder would continue to be monitored, and reports he would be sidelined for three weeks were ‘‘false’’.

It means Chase Tiatia will likely wear the No 15 jersey for the Hurricanes at Eden Park where a crowd in the vicinity of 35,000 is predicted.

Jordie Barrett’s absence removes some gloss from the Sunday afternoon match which will be brother Beauden’s debut for the Blues. The younger Barrett, 23, was in top form in Super Rugby 2020 before Covid-19 hit, and kicked the Hurricanes to victory against the Chiefs in their most recent match in March.

News of his likely absence was swirling on Tuesday but the Hurricanes refused to rule him in or out, saying his shoulder knock was being monitored and the team would be announced on Friday.

He later trained with the team at Rugby League Park in full kit when it was initially stated he would sit it out, further adding to the confusion.

Beauden Barrett let the cat further out of the bag in a video posted at 6pm on Tuesday on the Blues’ Twitter account.

Asked to predict what questions would be asked at his press conference in Auckland, Barrett said: ‘‘probably something about my brother, Jordie, who isn’t even playing . . . they [media] don’t know that yet’’.

Hurricanes coach Jason Holland will announce his team on Friday afternoon, 48 hours out from the match.