The Crusaders said Tuesday that New Zealand All Blacks star Will Jordan is set to be sidelined for the next six months with a shoulder injury, ruling him out of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Jordan, 25, needs surgery on a pre-existing injury from last season, the Crusaders said.
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It is a blow to the defending Super Rugby champions who start their 2024 campaign under new head coach Rob Penney away to the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday in a repeat of last year's final.
"Will Jordan has recently been under conservative management due to a pre-existing shoulder injury from the 2023 season," said a statement.
"After assessment from the Crusaders medical team he will undergo surgery and as a result be unavailable for selection during the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season. He is expected to be fit to return to play in approximately six months."
The full-back or winger is expected to return in "approximately six months", the Crusaders added, meaning Jordan will miss the All Blacks matches in July with two home Tests against England and one with Fiji in San Diego.
He could also sit out half of the Rugby Championship for New Zealand in August and September.
Jordan has scored 31 tries in as many Tests for New Zealand since his debut in 2020.
He finished as top try-scorer at last year's Rugby World Cup in France, touching down eight times including a hat-trick in the semi-final win over Argentina before New Zealand lost 12-11 to South Africa in the final.
Jordan missed the majority of last year's Super Rugby Pacific with migraine-related symptoms.
The Christchurch-based Crusaders had already suffered a pre-season injury setback with British and Irish Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny sidelined for up to four months with a torn pectoral muscle.
Flyhalf Fergus Burke won't return until midway through the season after damaging his ACL.
