Crusaders star Mccaw ruled out of Super Rugby until April
WORLD CUP-WINNING All Blacks and Crusaders captain Richie Mccaw has been ruled out of the first six weeks of the Super 15 competition.
The All Blacks flanker battled through immense pain in his right foot during 2011 as a screw inserted to fix a fracture at the beginning of the season only served to aggravate him.
The 31-year-old had surgery after the World Cup to remove the screw and today told reporters in Auckland that he doubted he would play again before April.
“I've just started back running,” Mccaw said.
“I'll progress over the next few weeks to hopefully get back out on the field soon.
“By March, I should be pretty close to knowing when I'll be back, but I'd say some time in April.”
The Crusaders head to South Africa for two matches against the Lions in Johannesburg on March 31 and Bulls in Pretoria on April 7, before they host the Stormers on April 14.
Meanwhile, malcontent France forward Sébastien Chabal has announced that he is headed to Australia to play in the Super 15.
The bearded No 8 has been linked to a number of clubs since his abrupt departure from Racing-métro, but he told a French TV channel that he is “going to play in Australia soon”.
It is unknown which Australian franchise Chabal will join, though the Melbourne Rebels seem the most likely considering that they have recruited more overseas-based players than all the other teams combined.
The Brumbies may also be interested while the three remaining Australian teams – the Western Force, Reds and Waratahs – already have Wallaby No 8s under contract.
Chabal is the second Frenchman playing Super Rugby this season.
He joins another high profile Les Tricolores player in Frédéric Michalak who is part of the Sharks’ plan for Super 15 glory.
Michalak though will return to France with Toulon at the end of the season in the hopes of reviving his international career.