The Highlanders first five eight Colin Slade has returned to New Zealand after surgery in the wake of suffering his second broken jaw of the Super rugby season.
Slade suffered the injury in the Highlanders win over the Melbourne Rebels at the weekend and will put him out for 10 weeks, likely ruining any chance of being All Black first five Dan Carter's back up at the World Cup.
Meanwhile former All Black captain and Chiefs second five Tana Umaga has suffered a calf injury during training in South Africa and will miss the Chiefs match against the Lions this weekend.
Umaga is returning home.
