Liam Coltman has been ruled for the rest of the year

Liam Coltman has been ruled for the rest of the year

 

Fringe All Black Liam Coltman has been ruled out of rugby for the rest of the year, after suffering a serious ankle injury.

 

Coltman, whose lone test came against Italy in Rome last November, suffered the injury during the Highlanders' Super Rugby quarter-final loss to the Crusaders.

 


It was feared the 27-year-old hooker had broken his ankle, but further assessments revealed a high-ankle sprain that needs surgery to repair ligament damage.

 


Coltman is ruled out of the selection contention for the Rugby Championship and Otago's NPC campaign.

 

A four-to-six month recovery window means he will also be unavailable for the All Blacks' season-ending tour of Europe.

 

Coltman provided injury cover during the test series against the British & Irish Lions, but didn't play, with Codie Taylor and Nathan Harris preferred in the injury-enforced absence of Dane Coles.

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