All Blacks and Crusaders midfielder Jack Goodhue has been ruled out of all rugby for the rest of 2021.
The Crusaders have confirmed Goodhue ruptured the ACL in his knee and requires surgery, which will sideline him for the rest of Super Rugby, as well as the All Blacks' international season.
Meanwhile, prop Joe Moody remains without a timetable for a return to play, nursing a "significant" toe injury. He'll be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Both were forced from the field during the Crusaders' win over the Hurricanes in Wellington on Sunday.
"It's a tough one for Jack," says Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson. "We're gutted for him.
"He's been through this before and come back in great condition. We've got a great group of medical staff, who will help him get back to his best.
"Joe we will reassess in a couple of weeks and see what his foot's like after it settled a little bit."
Goodhue has also suffered some damage to the posterior and medial ligaments in his knee, Robertson confirms.
"Knee took a bit of a knock last weekend, so I'm going to be out of action for a wee while (2021)," Goodhue has posted on Instagram. "ACL tear and a few other things going on.
"All I can do is control what I can control and get on with it."
The loss of the All Blacks duo compounds the Crusaders' substantial injury concerns.
The defending champions are already without the services of flanker Tom Christie (shoulder) and Andrew Makalio (neck) for the season.
All Blacks midfielder Braydon Ennor is making encouraging progress from a knee injury that has kept him out of action since September, but isn't expected to return to the Crusaders until their opening game of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman against the Brumbies on May 14.
"It's never going to be all smooth," said Robertson on Monday. "There is going to be a bit of chaos in there.
"You're going to have a few injuries, you're going to be down, you're going to get some calls from the refs and you're not. That's just part of it."
The All Blacks selectors will also be chewing their nails, with Moody and Goodhue joining Sam Cane (out for season, pectoral) and Ardie Savea (up to eight weeks, knee) in the long-term casualty ward.
Earlier in the week, Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan was confident his squad had the depth at prop to cover Moody's absence at loosehead prop, with George Bower the likely candidate to claim the No.3 jersey, and Isi Tu'ungafasi and rookie Tamaiti Williams as back-ups.
Leicester Fainga'anuku looms as the immediate substitute for Goodhue, although the Crusaders will be sweating on the status of the improving Ennor.
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