New Zealand have been dealt a major blow with captain Scott Barrett set to miss the start of the Nations Championship and inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series after undergoing back surgery.
Lock Barrett had been stood down from the start of the Super Rugby Pacific season on a non-playing sabbatical with a view to returning ahead of a busy period of international fixtures.
But having already undergone surgery on an ankle and achilles problem, the 32-year-old has suffered a blow with surgery required on a back problem that is set to sideline him for up to five months.
That timeline will rule the All Blacks skipper out of the four Tests with the Springboks that headline the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, and home fixtures against France, Italy and Ireland as the Nations Championship launches in July.
His absence will provide a headache for newly-appointed New Zealand coach Dave Rennie, who has taken over from Scott Robertson and must now select a new captain.
“He’s got his head around it now, a pretty special trip to South Africa that he’s going to miss, and some other bits and pieces,” Barrett’s club coach Rob Penney said with the forward unable to feature for the Crusaders this season. “But, ultimately, he’s just got to get himself right.”
Ardie Savea will be considered the favourite to step in for Barrett as All Blacks skipper having narrowly missed out on the role after Robertson’s appointment following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand begin their international season against France on 4 July in the first Test at the new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.
Barrett’s fellow Crusader Will Jordan is also a doubt for that fixture having been ruled out of the remainder of the Super Rugby season with a calf issue.
