All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick has been ruled out for several weeks after suffering a broken thumb over the weekend.
During the Chiefs’ loss against the Crusaders last Saturday, Retallick left the field after 30 minutes and did not return.
On Monday night, he confirmed the injury on Instagram, posting a snapshot of an x-ray with the statement, “Broken thumb over the weekend, pretty disappointing but will be back soon.”
The Chiefs’ medical staff verified the diagnosis today, and Retallick is anticipated to be out for six to eight weeks.
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The Chiefs will be upset by the news, as Retallick has started every game this season after returning from a two-year stay with the Kobelco Steelers in Japan.
Clayton McMillan’s squad has just been devastated by a Covid-19 outbreak that infected more than half of the crew.
The Chiefs have depth at lock and will now rely on All Blacks Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i, as well as Naitoa Ah Kuoi, who are both young. Laghlan McWhannell and Mitchell Brown are the other lock alternatives, but both were absent last week.
