Fiji-born All Blacks winger Emoni Narawa is set to miss the Chiefs’ Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season opener against the Crusaders this week due to a setback in his recovery from a back injury.
Narawa had been one of the stars of the competition last season and his sizzling speed along with electric finishing earned him an All Blacks selection for the Rugby Championship.
The 24-year-old debuted against Argentina and then had his World Cup over before it started due to injury.
Having made good progress in his recovery, the 24-year-old had stayed behind from the Chiefs’ two-game pre-season trip to Japan to continue his rehab, but, having expected to have the one-test flyer back to face the Blues, coach Clayton McMillan noted Narawa had suffered “a minor setback” during that time.
McMillan says there are no issues around the initial problems he had with his back but he just needs to build up a little bit of strength.
He says they know Narawa is going to be important to the team in the long run and so it’s just a case of not wanting to push him before he is 100 percent fit.
The Chiefs will take on the Crusaders at 6.05pm this Friday at FMG Stadium in Waikato in round 1 of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific competition.
In other matches this week, the Rebels will play the Brumbies at 8.35pm Friday in Melbourne, the Force will take on the Hurricanes at 11pm Friday at HBF Park, the Blues will play the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua at 3.35pm Saturday in Auckland, the Highlanders will host the Moana Pasifika at 6.05pm Saturday in Dunedin and the Reds will take on the Waratahs at 9.05pm Saturday at Suncorp Stadium.
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