All Blacks suffer first injury setback in South Africa as 'gutted' Dave Rennie calls on uncapped forward
All Blacks hooker George Bell has been ruled out of the tour in South Africa due to a calf injury. Head coach Dave Rennie has called up Bradley Slater as a replacement.
Why it matters
This is a significant roster change for a high-profile international rugby team during a major tour.
All Blacks hooker George Bell and an inset of head coach Dave Rennie.
The All Blacks have been dealt their first injury blow in South Africa with Dave Rennie forced to call in a front row replacement.
New Zealand Rugby have confirmed that Crusaders hooker George Bell will return home after sustaining a calf injury during training in Cape Town on Sunday and will be sidelined for four to six weeks.
Bell suffered the injury in one of the All Blacks ‘ first training sessions in the Mother City ahead of the opening game of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour against the Stormers .
He was added to the squad following the Nations Championship matches as the team’s fourth-choice hooker behind Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua and Samisoni Taukei’aho, but his tour is over before it even began.
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