All Black star out for up to six months

INJURY UPDATE: All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has revealed he will miss the majority of the 2020 Super Rugby season.

Savea will undergo surgery on a knee injury he sustained  during the All Blacks' World Cup semifinal defeat to England.

The 26-year-old, who was one of the stars at the World Cup, revealed the devastating news via an Instagram post.

The post read that he will be sidelined for five to six months and miss 'the majority of the Super Rugby season'.

"Thought I'd let you guys know that I'll be getting surgery on my knee that I injured in the semifinal,"

"Unfortunately will be out for 5-6 months so will miss the majority of the Super Rugby season with my Canes brothers.

*Full post below...

Savea's absence is certainly bad news for Hurricanes, who already lost their mercurial playmaker Beauden Barrett to the Blues.

Nonetheless, it will hand opportunities to up-and-coming flank Du'Plessis Kirifi and other loose forwards like Gareth Evans, Vaea Fifita, Reed Prinsep and Murphy Taramai to prove themselves.

The Hurricanes kick off their Super Rugby campaign with a tricky challenge against the Stormers at Newlands on February 1.