Any chance the former All Black midfielder Luke McAlister had of making the end of season tour is over after it was confirmed that he has a broken jaw.
The 30-Test first- or second-five-eighths originally injured his jaw playing for North Harbour against Manawatu two weeks ago and aggravated the injury further when he took a knock against Counties-Manukau last Sunday.
It continues a bad run with injury after a severely disrupted Super 14 campaign with the Blues.
McAlister, who returned from a two-season stint with Sale in England to push for another shot at a World Cup, will miss the final three weeks of North Harbour's campaign and is now looking a very long shot for next year's Cup, with strong competition developing in the midfield.
