All Blacks loose forward Sam Cane confident of being fit for July tests

All Black Sam Cane is back training in Japan and aiming to be fit for selection ahead of the All Blacks tests against England and Fiji in July.

The openside flanker, who captained the All Blacks during the World Cup in France last year, hasn't played for his Suntory Sungoliath team in the Japan Rugby League One competition since January 20th because of a back injury.

Although he had been targeted for a return to Sungoliath ahead of its Japan Rugby League One final, the team is scheduled to play a semi against the Toshiba Brave Lupus on Sunday, and Cane is likely to err on the side of caution and focuses on getting fully fit to reignite his mission to retain the All Blacks No. 7 jersey.

After fulfilling his duties with Sungoliath, Cane will return to New Zealand and has the option of rejoining the Chiefs to train - although he won't be available for their Super Rugby Pacific games - and could potentially play club rugby.

Whether Cane, if selected, would retain the captaincy under new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is unclear.

Robertson has indicated he won't name his skipper until he reveals his 32-man All Blacks squad on June 24th.

The All Blacks will host two test matches against England on the 6th and 13th of July before facing the Fiji Water Flying Fijians on the 20th of July in San Diego.

Source: stuff.co.nz