All Black winger Nehe Milner-Skudder will undergo another shoulder surgery which appears likely to end his hopes of going to the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
The 28-year-old Hurricanes star has been plagued by injuries since his Test debut in 2015 and previously went under the knife on the same injury but must go again in a hope to gain a full recovery.
Milner-Skudder posted on social media to confirm that he will go for surgery once more.
“There was plenty to work towards and look forward to on the Rugby to-do list. But unfortunately, due to ongoing issues with my shoulder from a prior surgery not going as well as we’d hoped, it was the best decision to go under the knife again to get it sorted,” he said.
The All Black is set for a move to French Top 14 side Toulon at the end of the Super Rugby season meaning it is likely that we have seen him play his final match in New Zealand.
He has missed the entire Super Rugby season to date through injury and recently became an ambassador for the New Zealand Rugby mental health campaign, noting in his post that his struggles have been mental as well as physical.
“I’ve been through ‘a few’ injuries, but this has easily been the toughest one – both physically and mentally. However, I’m not ready to give up anytime soon, love a good challenge, and have so much love and support around me,” he added.
He will join-up with fellow New Zealand players Julian Savea, Liam Messam and Bryce Heem when he heads to France and they will be hoping he is back up and running soon to help them bounce-back from a poor season.
