New Zealand Rugby
Kahui sidelined until 2011
Scrum.com
September 16, 2010
New Zealand's Richard Kahui is tackled by Jaque Fourie, New Zealand v South Africa, Tri-Nations, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, July 10, 2010
Richard Kahui initially injured his shoulder against the Springboks © Getty Images
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All Blacks and Waikato centre Richard Kahui has been ruled out for the rest of the year after it was revealed he requires surgery on a shoulder injury.

Kahui suffered a small fracture of his shoulder socket in the All Blacks' opening Tri-Nations test victory against South Africa in Auckland, keeping him on the sidelines for two months.

He returned for Waikato in the ITM Cup on September 4 but re-injured the shoulder, meaning he will now miss New Zealand's end-of-year northern hemisphere tour. Injury also sidelined him for a large portion of 2007 and last year he spent another six months on the sidelines due to a shoulder problem.

All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said Kahui underwent an arthroscopy in Auckland on Wednesday which confirmed surgery was required. She said the arthroscopic procedure confirmed that the fracture was healing well, but Kahui had suffered a partial tear to his rotator cuff (the tendons that act to stabilise the shoulder) as well as minor cartilage damage, so needed further surgery to repair those injuries.

"It's a real blow for Richard who had been recovering well from the earlier injury, but it's in his best interests to get the shoulder fixed now," she said.

Robinson said Kahui will be available for next year's Super 15 competition.

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