Cam Roigard ruled out for start of Rugby Championship
All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard will be sidelined for at least the first two rounds of the Rugby Championship.
Roigard fractured his right foot during the France series and will not travel to Argentina for the opening rounds.
He joins fellow halfback Noah Hotham, who could be out for up to eight weeks with an ankle injury.
Tasman's Finlay Christie was scratched from today's NPC clash with Bay of Plenty, and is likely to be called in as a replacement.
The All Blacks said Roigard's return to play would be assessed in two weeks.
New Zealand's squad for the Rugby Championship will be announced at midday Monday.
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All Blacks squad for Rugby Championship The squad is as follows: (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps) * denotes new caps Hookers: Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 98), Samisoni Taukei'aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 33), Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury, 1). Props: Ethan de Groot (27, Highlanders / Southland, 32), Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18), Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 2), Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Tasman, 45), Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 25), Pasilio Tosi (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 9). ADVERTISEMENT Locks: Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 81) (Captain), Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 55), Tupou Vaa'i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 40), Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, 3). Loose forwards: Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 11), Simon Parker (25, Chiefs / Northland, *), Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 97) (Vice-Captain), Du'Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3), Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10), Peter Lakai (22, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3), Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24). Halfbacks: Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 14), Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 12), Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2). First-five eighths: Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 136), Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 64). Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 85), Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 71) (Vice-Captain), Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 16), Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 4), Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 2). Outside backs: Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 83), Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29), Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 34), Emoni Narawa (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 3), Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 44), Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2). Injury cover George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams, Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, *) for Tyrel Lomax, Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Tasman, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham, Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, *) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham, Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, *) for Caleb Clarke. Unavailable due to injury: Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Asafo Aumua, Stephen Perofeta.
