Super Rugby side the Blues have confirmed that three of their players picked up serious injuries during their 37-29 loss to the Chiefs over the weekend.
In what was their opening game of the new season things could hardly have turned out worse for the New Zealand-based franchise as they not only lost the game but have now lost star back Rieko Ioane, hooker Ray Niuia and prop Alex Hodgman for the foreseeable future.
Ioane is the biggest loss to the team having starred during their defeat as he scored two tries at Eden Park, but he has fractured his hand and will now miss “several weeks” of action in what is a major blow.
Meanwhile, things are even worse for Niuia who has sustained a knee injury that has ruled him out of the remainder of the season after just one game. While Hodgman is out following a calf tear during the game.
In some more positive news for the franchise veteran hooker James Parsons could return from his own injury lay-off this week as well as Otere Black, with the duo hopeful of returning to action to help ease the injury-hit team.
However, it is a huge loss to the team, but they will hope that they can manage to pull things together despite the set-backs when they face the Waratahs this weekend as they search for their first win of the campaign.
