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Call-up for potential All Blacks bolter Tom Robinson thwarted by injury

Tom Robinson. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Blues flanker Tom Robinson has been denied a meteoric call-up to the All Blacks by a knee injury which will require surgery and could see him sidelined for up to six months, according to the New Zealand Herald.

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Robinson was a standout for the Blues in a disappointing Super Rugby campaign, with the side finishing in 13th place to miss out on a play-off spot for the eighth season running.

The 24-year-old’s performances in his debut Super Rugby season were so good that many tipped him to earn a call-up to the national side, but a torn meniscus in training means the Northland native will go under the knife in Auckland today.

While Robinson can take solace out of the fact that this is not an anterior cruciate ligament injury, it adds to a growing history of recurring knee injuries that he has suffered in recent years.

Two seasons ago, he needed reconstruction surgery on both knees, which included titanium inserts, setting his career back with a lengthy spell in the injury ward.

This time, Robinson can expect to be out of action for anywhere between two and six months, depending on the surgeon’s verdict, meaning he will be firmly focused on returning to the field with Northland in the Mitre 10 Cup, or during the Blues’ pre-season ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby campaign.

Robinson became a core member of the Blues’ loose forward trio throughout 2019, partnering well with No. 8 Akira Ioane, and openside flanker duo Blake Gibson and Dalton Papali’i.

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Able to cover lock, the son of former All Blacks second rower Alastair Robinson claimed Fans’ Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year accolades at the Blues’ end-of-season awards held recently.

His efforts this season were rewarded in April, when he was one of seven players to re-sign with the Blues on multi-year deals, with Robinson extending his contract through until the end of the 2021 season.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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