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'He's going to come in fit and healthy': Chiefs shoot down Aaron Cruden's injury concerns
By Online Editors
The Chiefs aren't worried about Aaron Cruden's recent injury history in the wake of his return to the Hamilton franchise.
Cruden will return to Super Rugby next year with the club he won two titles with over a six-year span after spending two seasons in France with Top 14 outfit Montpellier.
During his time in Europe, though, the 30-year-old playmaker sustained a prolonged injury run, with a troublesome calf proving to be particularly prone to keeping him sidelined.
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However, Chiefs CEO Michael Collins told Stuff that the side has full faith in Cruden's ability to stay injury free throughout his one-year deal.
"We've spoken to Aaron and watched some of his games, and a couple of the injuries he did suffer in France were contact injuries and we always knew he was going to come right," Collins said.
"But the driver for us was he has such a history with the Chiefs, he's a world-class first five-eighth, we've got some really good young backs coming through and we thought his recruitment would serve two purposes - to help drive the team round the field, and also to be an older voice and someone for those younger players to learn off.
"We know that he's going to come in fit and healthy, so we thought it'd be better to get his family settled, focus on that, then join the team after the Christmas break."
The 50-cap All Black, who played his last test for New Zealand in the drawn test against the British and Irish Lions in Auckland two years ago, will link up with the Chiefs in January.
The Chiefs will kick-off their 2020 Super Rugby campaign against the Blues at Eden Park on January 31.
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Latest Comments
There is a major story unfolding around Gleeson's bar in Booterstown, South Dublin City last night. Beaudy Barrett, DMac and Cody Taylor were there. DMac was supposed to be on the Guinness 0.0 but lets just say it didn't turn out that way.
Hours later, Dmac out cold, head on the table with a long stallagtite of flem and spittle rising and falling with his breathing. There is a video apparently.
The barman barred a staggering Taylor from any more Guinness but Taylor kept pushing past him, pulled a seat up to the Guinness tap and personally pulled himself pints, claiming it was 'celebrity pint pulls mate'.
One of these celebrity pint pulls made a local paper but it's only a matter of time before the real context comes out. Dmac is out of the team for Friday due to breaking 'internal standards', Sititi starting at 10.
Go to commentsNow that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
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