6 May 2011

Hip injury returns to sideline Toeava

6:08 am on 6 May 2011

There's been another big injury blow for Super Rugby's leaders the Blues with Isaia Toeva out for the rest of the season.

Coach Pat Lam says that Toeava's hip stress fracture has returned and the in-form fullback will need six weeks of non-weight bearing exercise, which effectively rules him out for the rest of the season.

However he says Toeava thinks the injury's not as serious this time so he should be available for the All Blacks.

In the meantime he's a big loss for the Blues who play the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night with 12 of the 32 players selected at the start of the season on their casualty list.

Among them are All Blacks Tony Woodcock, Anthony Boric and Luke McAlister. Jared Payne will take Toava's place at fullback.