Broken leg may have ended Rutledge's year

The Southland rugby team's massive task of beating Auckland this weekend just got tougher, with hooker Jason Rutledge ruled out with a broken leg.

The Stags' 25-20 win over Taranaki in New Plymouth, its first win in the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup, came at a heavy cost.

Reserve rake David Hall also has a foot injury and is a doubtful starter against Auckland, while wing Mark Wells will be on the sideline after injuring ribs.

The Stags may have to face an unbeaten Auckland with a third-string hooker, with Marist's Matt Holloway coming into the squad.

A former New Zealand under-21 player, Holloway is contracted to Southland but missed the cut for the Stags squad this season.

A gutted Rutledge said yesterday he would be out for six to eight weeks, meaning the end of his season unless Southland reaches the playoffs.

"I have had my fair share of injuries and this is another year with another one. But I have to keep my chin up. I will be out for six weeks minimum and hopefully be back for the quarter-finals," he said.

Rutledge broke the fibula, or calf bone, a long slender bone on the side of the lower leg, after a player landed on his leg when he was tackled early in the game.

"I heard a crack and tried to play on, but it kept clicking so I called it a day."

The 29-year-old, who has played close to 70 games for Southland, was keen to make his mark after being given a starting berth ahead of Hall at the weekend.

Stags co-coach David Henderson was disappointed for Rutledge, son of All Black Leicester Rutledge.

"He has done a lot of hard work leading into this season, so it's pretty hard to swallow.

"That could be his season. He's pretty dark."

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/southlandtimes/4163415a6439.html