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Crusaders hooker ruled out of Super Rugby season through injury

(Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Crusaders hooker Andrew Makalio has been ruled out of the 2021 Super Rugby season due to a neck injury.

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The Crusaders confirmed the news on Wednesday after Makalio injured his neck following a collision while playing for Tasman during last year’s Mitre 10 Cup.

Subsequent investigations and specialist opinions have determined that surgery is required to manage the injury.

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While no date has yet been set for Makalio to undergo the knife, the Crusaders confirmed the 29-year-old will take no part in this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaigns.

“We really feel for Drewza, and we wish him all the best with surgery and his recovery,” Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson said.

“While he won’t take part in any games this season, Drew is a really important member of our squad and his contribution off the field will be significant. We look forward to connecting with him on his return to Christchurch following surgery.”

Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Vella, who has previously played Super Rugby for the Hurricanes, Sunwolves and Highlanders, has been called into the squad as Makalio’s replacement.

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The journeyman rake will compete with All Blacks star Codie Taylor and youngster Brodie McAlister for playing time in the No. 2 jersey.

Vella could make his first appearances for the Crusaders in their pre-season matches against the Highlanders in Temuka on February 12 and the Blues in Auckland on February 19.

The reigning Super Rugby Aotearoa champions will then kick their season off against the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on February 26.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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