Injury rules out All Black Jordie Barrett for rest of season

A severe shoulder injury is likely to bring an abrupt end to the season for rising All Blacks utility back Jordie Barrett, the younger brother of fly-half Beauden. The 20-year-old, who earned a start in the third Test against the British and Irish Lions last month, has not recovered from the injury suffered in the Wellington Hurricanes’ Super Rugby semi-final against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg.As Canterbury Crusaders fullback David Havili was rushed into the squad on Thursday, Barrett was to undergo further scans. “If it’s an operation it will knock him out for the rest of the year,” All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said. “While it’s disappointing for him it’s been a massive year for him. He’s done magnificently well in the Hurricanes environment. He’s come in and had a couple of Test matches and started a pretty big one and has done himself proud.”Like Barrett, the 22-year-old Havili is comfortable at both fullback in the midfield. “While he’s a utility, he’s stepped into that fullback role really well,” Foster said. “He’s a reasonably experienced footballer now he’s played in a number of positions so he brings that to the table but he looks pretty settled at fullback. It’s just nice to reward a player who has played his way in with form.”All Blacks vice captain and first choice fullback Ben Smith is scheduled to take a break from rugby following the first two matches in the Rugby Championship. The All Blacks play their first match in the competition against Australia in Sydney on August 19.Wallabies centre Kerevi keen to see the real BealeAn untimely knee injury to Kurtley Beale paved the way for Samu Kerevi’s Wallabies debut last year but the Fiji-born centre hopes both men can slot into Australia’s midfield during the upcoming Rugby Championship.Beale is back training with Michael Cheika’s squad ahead of the opening test against the All Blacks in Sydney next week, having been rested from the June internationals after returning from his spell at English club Wasps with a hamstring injury.Kerevi is also on the comeback trail from a high ankle sprain but has enjoyed training alongside playmaker Beale, who is likely to slot in at inside centre if fit. “Kurtley is an exceptional player with an exceptional rugby brain,” the 23-year-old said at the Wallabies’ training camp in Cessnock, New South Wales yesterday.“We have been doing a lot of opposed stuff with the boys and trying different combinations in the centres. For me, when I do train with Kurtley or train against him, just seeing how he plays excites me. I know he can bring that X-factor to the backline and then we have guys like Israel Folau out back, Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight out wide that can finish off amazing tries.”Playing both midfield positions, Queensland Red Kerevi managed eight tests last year but repeated ankle problems ruled him out of the season-ending tour of Europe and the June internationals against Fiji, Scotland and Italy.He has been easing back into full contact training this week but is confident he will be fit for the match at Sydney’s Olympic stadium. Few give the Wallabies any chance of winning back the Bledisloe Cup, the annual series contested with world champions New Zealand, to end a losing streak dating back to 2003.Kerevi, however, can sniff an upset. “I want to make sure I take every opportunity this year,” he said. “This group can change history and be part of it, that’s what excites me.”Robshaw signs new Harlequins contractFormer England captain Chris Robshaw has agreed a new long-term contract with Harlequins, the English Premiership club announced yesterday. The 31-year-old flanker has spent his entire senior career with the London side and this latest deal will keep him at the Twickenham Stoop until 2020.“I am extremely proud to have re-signed with the club that gave me my first chance as a player and I’ve cheered for since I was a child,” said Robshaw, who made his Quins debut 12 years ago and has since won 56 England caps, including captaining his country during their ill-fated 2015 World Cup campaign on home soil.Robshaw, 31, remains a key member of Six Nations champions England’s side under Eddie Jones and Harlequins director of rugby Kingston was delighted to see him stay at the Stoop, saying: “I am absolutely delighted that we have agreed a further contract extension with Chris. He continues to be a fantastic advert for Harlequins in the way he conducts himself both on and off the pitch.”Kingston added: “His influence within the group is immense, and I know, in talking at length with him, he has an incredible appetite to win further major domestic and European honours with the only club he has represented. “This is brilliant news for Harlequins at a time when we are preparing for what will be an incredibly exciting season, back in the (European) Champions Cup.”