Super Rugby
Hurricanes prop battling blood clots
ESPN Staff
January 23, 2015

Hurricanes prop John Schwalger will miss the majority of the Super Rugby season after the discovery of further blood clots on his lungs.

Schwalger was first diagnosed with the issue last year after he was originally thought to be suffering a chest infection. The front-rower had been training hard in the pre-season before he was struck down with the flu, bringing back the clots and effectively ruling him out of rugby until June.

"I was looking forward to jamming with the Hurricanes and playing with Ma'a [Nonu] one last time," Schwalger said. "It sucks, to be honest. When I found out the second time I was close to breaking down but once I saw the specialist he gave me a bit of hope which is something for me to look forward to. So now we've got to have a plan that once I do come off the medicine and I'm all good, we've just got to get it sorted before it ever makes its way up to my lungs."

Schwalger, 31, is off contract at the end of the year. He played just six games for the Hurricanes in 2014 before returning to captain Wellington in their dismal ITM Cup campaign.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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