New Zealand All Blacks captain Sam Cane poses in his new Suntory Sungoliath uniform, 2023. Photo: AFP
All Blacks captain Sam Cane faces at least a couple of months on the sideline after reportedly suffering a serious injury playing for Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.
Suntory, who sit third on the Division 1 table, have also lost Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe to injury.
Japan-based rugby journalist Rich Freeman reports that Cane injured his back and could be out of action for up to ten weeks.
Cane was out of the game for several months after breaking his neck in 2018, while he missed the start of last year's World Cup with a back problem.
The 32 year old is on sabbitical in Japan and will miss the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Both Cane and Kolbe, who has a hand injury, missed last weekend's round of fixtures.
With a ten-week recovery Cane is set to miss most of the rest of the season which finishes in May.
The All Blacks first game of the season is against England in early July.