Promising All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala will miss the entire 2016 Super Rugby season after suffering a serious knee injury while training with the Chiefs.
The 24-year-old, who made his debut for the All Blacks in 2015, tore his anterior cruciate ligament and two other ligaments in his right knee on Friday.
Scans revealed the 116kg tighthead had also torn his medial collateral ligament and his posterior cruciate ligament in the training ground mishap.
He will require a knee reconstruction and it is expected to be 12 months before he is back playing rugby.
"It's obviously very disappointing to have injured my knee and be unable to play," said the four-Test All Black.
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"Once I'm through surgery, I'll be working hard to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible so I can get back out on the rugby field."
Meanwhile, 2.06m lock Dominic Bird, who like Laulala switched to the Chiefs from Super Rugby rivals the Crusaders in the off-season, will be sidelined for 10 weeks after suffering a broken foot on Monday.
"It's not the start to the season I was hoping for, it's as frustrating as ever, like any injury," said Bird who played the last of his two Tests against Scotland in late 2014.
"I'm looking at 10 weeks of recovery so I'll be doing what I can to get the rest of my body right in the meantime."
