All Blacks midfielder Quinn Tupaea sidelined for nine months

All Blacks midfielder Quinn Tupaea is set to be on the sidelines for up to nine months after his injury setback in the first Bledisloe test against Australia.

The 23-year-old was initially expected to miss the remainder of the 2022 but further scans revealed that he will be out of action for a lengthy period which puts his participation in the Rugby World Cup next year in doubt.

Tupaea suffered a ruptured medial cruciate ligament in his left knee after being struck by Darcy Swain, who was yellow carded in the 36th minute.

Swain was handed a six-game ban after facing an independent disciplinary hearing of SANZAAR with the panel deeming the act of the 25-year-old was not intentional but reckless.

He already missed the Auckland game against the All Blacks along with Test matches against Scotland and France on 30th October and 6th November respectively apart from three matches for Australia A against Scotland.

Swain is expected to feature for the Wallabies for the end of the year games Tests against Italy, Ireland and Wales.

“I feel for Quinn,” said Beauden Barrett after the incident.

“He basically didn’t see it coming. He was a sitting duck – it was a bit of a free shot.

“I feel for him because he’s going to be out of the game for a long time and I’m not too sure what’s happening in their camp with Darcy Swain,. We don’t like to see these sorts of injuries.”