Highlanders rookie's debut Super Rugby campaign over before it begins
The Highlanders have been dealt a blow ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby campaign, as rookie recruit Connor Garden-Bachop has been ruled out of action for the entirety of next season.
A lower back injury first sustained by the 20-year-old in February has continued to persist, and a decision has been made for the youngster to undergo surgery ahead of Christmas to fix the issue.
As a result, Garden-Bachop - younger brother of Hurricanes first-five Jackson - is facing a recovery period of six to seven months, meaning he won't be available for selection again until at least next June.
The Season: Hamilton Boys High School - Episode 5
It's a particularly cruel break for the Wellington outside back, who was in line to make his Super Rugby debut after being named in the Highlanders' 2020 squad last month.
“It’s tough on Connor as I know he was extremely excited by the prospect of pulling on the Highlanders jersey for the first time," Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger, who is also Garden-Bachop's cousin, said in a statement on Tuesday.
"However, it’s the right decision, his back has been preventing him from training fully, he is still a very young player and it’s in his best interests to get it sorted now so we can rehab him well through the Super [Rugby] season, then he can come back strong through the Mitre 10 [Cup] competition later in the year.”
"6114200876001"]
Latest Comments
Great to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
Go to comments