Chiefs prop out for the season
All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala sustained a serious knee injury at a team training last Friday.
Scans have revealed that Laulala has torn three ligaments in his right knee – the ACL, PCL and MCL.
He will undergo knee reconstruction surgery in the near future.
The expected recovery time is 12 months ruling 24-year-old Laulala out for the entire 2016.
"It's obviously very disappointing to have injured my knee and be unable to play for the Chiefs for a while, but I'll be back real soon," Laulala said.
"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 field.
"Though I'm unable to play for a little while, I'll be supporting the boys and doing as much as I can for the team."
All Black lock Dominic Bird will sit out the first 10 weeks of Super Rugby after fracturing his right foot.
The 24-year-old lock was injured during training on Monday.
"It's not the start to the season I was hoping for, it's as frustrating as ever, like any injury," Bird said.
"I'm looking at ten weeks of recovery so I'll be doing what I can to get the rest of my body right in the meantime.
"I'll still be chipping in with a lot of line-out stuff with the boys and helping the team however I can."
The Chiefs will play two pre-season games in preparation for their 2016 Super Rugby campaign – which kicks off against the Crusaders in Christchurch on February 27.
They will play their first pre-season fixture against the Waratahs on Friday, February 12, in Rotorua.
The following week the Chiefs will take on their northern neighbours, the Blues, on February the 19.
