All Blacks captain Ardie Savea is set to undergo surgery on the shoulder injury that brought his tour of South Africa to an early end.
The star loose forward dislocated his shoulder during the third Test against the Springboks, forcing him to miss the final game of the Greatest Rivalry series in Baltimore.
Savea had scored twice before suffering the injury in the 29-24 defeat, with the All Blacks captain subsequently sent home for further assessment.
The All Blacks confirmed the dislocated shoulder when announcing their squad for the final Test, but the full extent of the damage has now resulted in surgery.
Savea set for surgery
There is no confirmed return date for the 32-year-old, with a clearer timeframe expected once the operation has taken place.
However, it appears unlikely Savea will play again before the start of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.
There is also uncertainty over where he will be playing when he does return.
Savea’s club future remains unresolved following the demise of Moana Pasifika, with the All Blacks skipper yet to announce his next move.
More injury problems for All Blacks
Savea isn't the only New Zealand star facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Luke Jacobson is expected to be out for around five months with an elbow tendon injury after he was among the All Blacks players sent home following the South Africa leg of the tour.
Caleb Clarke is also done for the year after rupturing a tendon in his shoulder.
The powerful winger was forced to leave the tour early and is also expected to spend around five months recovering.
It leaves New Zealand with several major injury concerns heading towards 2027, when attention will quickly turn towards the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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Five quirky facts about Ardie Savea
1. He once played a World Cup match in goggles
Savea caused quite a stir at the 2019 Rugby World Cup when he wore protective goggles against Canada.
He revealed at the time that the vision in his left eye was deteriorating and wanted to protect his stronger right eye. The experiment didn’t exactly go smoothly — Savea removed the goggles during the match and they never became a permanent part of his look.
2. His neck tattoo represents his family
One of Savea’s most recognisable tattoos has a particularly personal meaning.
He got his surname tattooed on his neck while still at school, surrounded by six stars. Each star represents a member of his family.
3. He gave up the chance to chase an Olympic medal
Savea could have been an Olympian.
He played for New Zealand on the World Sevens Series and was in contention for the Rio 2016 Olympics, but withdrew from the selection process to focus on establishing himself in the All Blacks XVs set-up.
4. He wanted to be a fashion designer
Rugby wasn't Savea's only potential career.
He previously revealed that if he hadn't become a professional player, he would have liked to become either a fashion designer or a teacher.
He eventually got to scratch that fashion itch anyway, launching his own clothing range with wife Saskia.
5. His brother is an All Blacks legend too
Rugby talent clearly runs in the family.
Ardie is the younger brother of former All Blacks powerhouse Julian Savea, who scored 46 tries in 54 Tests for New Zealand.
The brothers were fiercely competitive growing up — Ardie has even recalled them playing rugby on their knees inside the house when they weren't able to play outside.
