Read suffers injury setback

The Crusaders have been dealt a big blow with Kieran Read suffering a thumb injury in their 48-21 win over the Cheetahs on Saturday. 

According to the All Blacks’ official website, the Crusaders revealed the news via a statement after the seven-time champions stretched their unbeaten record for the season to nine matches in Bloemfontein against the Cheetahs.

Read will be returning home from their South African tour after undergoing surgery on a fracture at the base of his right thumb.

The recovery time for the injury will not be known until post-surgery assessments are conducted in New Zealand, however surgery of this sort would generally require approximately six weeks of recovery the statement read.

Quinten Strange will travel to South Africa to replace Read in the squad for their clash against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.