Recurring knee injury rules Liam Squire out of Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021 season

Highlanders will miss the services of All Blacks flanker for the remainder of the Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021 season following a recurring knee injury.

Squire was part of the Highlanders since 2016 but had a brief stint with Japanese side DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in 2020 before returning back to the Super Rugby club in 2021. He returned to action this season after undergoing knee and hip surgeries last year but now has to spend additional time on the sidelines.

The 30-year-old played in the opening two rounds of the tournament against Crusaders and Chiefs where he came off the bench but has not featured since then.

Highlanders head coach Tony Brown expressed disappointment on the news and is hoping for Squire to have a successful recovery phase.

“It is tough for Liam, he has worked hard to get back in shape to have a big season but his knee has flared up again which means we have to give him time now to rest it and try and get it right,” he told in a statement released by the club.

Highlanders currently are languishing at the bottom of the Super Rugby Aotearoa table after losing three out of their four matches.