All Blacks skipper Kieran Read has suffered a major setback, needing to have surgery to correct a back injury this Saturday, and could be out for the first few rounds of the 2018 Super Rugby season for the Crusaders.
Read, 32, didn't play in the All Blacks' final northern hemisphere tour match last month against Wales because of his injury.
He posted a picture of himself today on social media sitting on the coach watching a game of cricket on TV.
"So lucky there's a big summer of cricket coming up as I will be spending plenty of time here over the next few weeks," Read posted.
"Head in for surgery on a disc in my back on Saturday which I injured at the end of the season. Hopefully I don't miss too much of the start of the Super Rugby season. I'll get through it thanks to the ACC."
Read is likely to be replaced by teammate Jordan Taufua or Pete Samu at No.8 for the Crusaders.
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