All Blacks star Will Jordan out of Super Rugby Pacific season

In an update on crusaders.co.nz, it was announced Jordan had recently been under conservative management due to a pre-existing shoulder injury from the 2023 season.

But, after an assessment by the Crusaders' medical team, it was decided he should have surgery that would rule him out for the Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

The note ended with a brief comment that he is expected to be fit to play in about six months.

That could mean the 31-Test, 31-try-scoring All Black could miss the home two-Test series against England with games on July 6 in Dunedin and July 13 in Auckland, the San Diego Test against Fiji on July 20 and possibly part of the Rugby Championship which starts against Argentina in Wellington on August 10.

World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year in 2021, Jordan, 24, had a delayed start to last season's Super Rugby season due to migraine-related issues but recovered in time to be part of the international season, and he topped the try-scoring list with eight tries at the Rugby World Cup in France.

His loss is a setback for the seven-time defending champions, who have already lost former Welsh and British & Irish Lions fullback Leigh Halfpenny for a large chunk of the season.

Fellow All Blacks Ethan Blackadder and David Havili will not be available for their opening game against the Chiefs in Hamilton. Blackadder faces a three to four-week wait to play due to a calf injury, while Havili has just returned from an extended break.

The side's options at first five-eighths are also reduced, with likely starter Fergus Burke sidelined until April with an Achilles tendon injury.

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