Ulster’s new signing Charles Piutau out for rest of season

All Blacks loose forward Jerome Kaino and outside back Charles Piutau will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season after being injured over the weekend, the Auckland Blues said on Monday.

Piutau hopes to force his way into the All Blacks squad despite deciding to join Irish province Ulster for next season but the injury will come as a major setback.

Kaino will be sidelined for eight weeks after suffering a compound fracture to the ring finger of his left hand, while Piutau sustained a medial ligament injury to his knee that will put him out of action for six weeks.

The injury to Kaino, who started every match in the World Cup on home soil four years ago and played eight tests at blindside flanker for the All Blacks last season, will be a blow to New Zealand coach Steve Hansen.

A nominee for World Player of the Year in 2011 and key member of Hansen’s squad, the physical back row forward is now a major doubt for the All Blacks’ season-opener against Samoa in Apia on July 8th.

New Zealand then play Rugby Championship tests against Argentina in Christchurch on July 17th and South Africa in Johannesburg on July 25th before back-to-back matches against Australia in Sydney and Auckland on August 8th and 15th.

Their World Cup defence begins against Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London on September 20th.

There are also concerns about in-form Wellington Hurricanes outhalf Beauden Barrett, who injured his knee on Saturday and will have scans on the joint later on Monday.

With Aaron Cruden sidelined for six months with a knee problem of his own, New Zealand can barely afford to lose another player in tht position.