Cruden surgery scheduled for early May

Surgery to reconstruct All Blacks playmaker Aaron Cruden's ruptured knee ligaments has been scheduled for early May.

All Blacks five-eighth Aaron Cruden will undergo knee reconstruction surgery early in May, the Chiefs said on Thursday.

Cruden ruptured his left knee's anterior cruciate ligament early in the Chiefs' 26-9 Super Rugby win over the Crusaders last Friday in Christchurch.

Scans on Monday confirmed he would need knee reconstruction surgery, scheduled for early May.

Cruden, who made his All Blacks debut against Ireland in 2010, has 37 Test caps and accumulated 280 points for New Zealand.