All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown will not feature in the summer Test series against Ireland after it was confirmed he will be sidelined for six months with a shoulder injury.
The Chiefs say the 56-cap international requires surgery after leaving the field seven minutes into Saturday's 25-0 Super Rugby defeat to the Blues after he took a knock on his right shoulder.
"A bump in the road but the journey continues. I'll be back," said the 26-year-old, who will undergo surgery this week.
He will play no part in the three Steinlager Series Tests against Ireland in July, with the matches to be played in Auckland, Dunedin, and Wellington. Eden Park.
