New Zealand centre Billy Proctor will return home from his side's tour of South Africa after scans revealed a fractured shoulder sustained in the 38-21 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday.
Proctor looked uncomfortable as he left the field after being injured in a clear-out at a ruck and is the second player to head home injured after hooker George Bell sustained a calf injury in training.
"Scans have revealed Billy Proctor has a shoulder blade fracture," a statement from the All Blacks said on Sunday. “This will not require surgery but will take approximately 10 to 12 weeks of recovery, meaning Billy has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour."
There has been no word of a replacement as yet, but local media reports in New Zealand suggest it could open the door for flyhalf Richie Mo'unga to return to the squad.
New Zealand have three more fixtures against South African franchise teams, starting on Tuesday against the Sharks in Durban, and also take on the world champion Springboks in four tests starting on August 22, the last of which is in Baltimore in the United States.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie named his team for the Sharks clash earlier on Sunday.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz underlined his status as the man to beat at the US Open with a ruthless 6-3 6-4 6-1 victory over China's Wu Yibing on Friday as he reached the fourth round and continued his bid for a third title at Flushing Meadows.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a special meeting for the UAE youth handball team and its staff to honour them for qualifying for the 2027 IHF Men's Junior World Championship.
Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her imposing run at the US Open with a composed 6-3 6-4 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round on Friday, extending her bid for a fifth Grand Slam title.
The reigning T20 world champions India will play Japan for the first time in an international match when the teams meet at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi on September 22, the two cricket boards said on Friday.
Alexander Zverev survived another almighty scare at the US Open as the top seed overcame Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 6-3 on Thursday to secure a place in the third round of the Grand Slam.
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