Bowden suffers injury setback

Editor

Blues fly-half Daniel Bowden’s Super Rugby return has been put on hold after he sustained a foot injury during a pre-season game.

Bowden, who played for the Highlanders and Crusaders between 2008 and 2010 before moving to England where he had stints at London Irish and Leicester Tigers, damaged a ligament in his foot during last weekend’s clash with the Chiefs in Whangarei.

He will miss the Blues’ final pre-season game and their tournament opener against the Chiefs in Albany on February 14.

The Blues will make a decision next week whether Bowden will be fit to go on their tour to South Africa which follows the Chiefs game.

“He’s popped a little ligament in his foot,” Blues coach Sir John Kirwan told Fairfax Media.

It looks like it will be two weeks.

“It was a difficult one. We wanted him to play a bit of 12 the other night. We put him on and he got dinged.

“I’m pleased it’s not too serious. We should have him back, if not for Africa, as soon as we get back.”