Chiefs flank Sam Cane will miss at least half of the Vodacom Super Rugby season as he continues his recovery from a neck injury sustained last year. 

Cane broke his neck after colliding with Springbok flank Francois Louw while on duty with the All Blacks in last year’s Rugby Championship.

After undergoing scans in Pretoria, it was found that Cane had suffered fractured vertebrae, but fortunately escaped any nerve damage which could have had more severe consequences.

The 27-year-old, who retained the Chiefs’ co-captaincy with Brodie Retallick, is on the road to recovery, but will still be out until late April, putting him in a race against time to be match fit for the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks in July.

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images