All Blacks star 'out cold' after 'sickening' hit

03/05/2024 14:03

The Blues could be without Rieko Ioane in the tail end of the Super Rugby Pacific season after a "sickening" hit.

Ioane was tackling Rebels player Josh Kemeny when it appeared his head made contact with their hip.

The centre was left splayed out on the ground before being attended to by sideline medical staff with his head slumped to the side.

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"Rieko is right in front of us here and he's calmed down a little bit now but he was in a significant amount of pain when he went down initially," said Stephen Hoilles on Stan Sport's coverage.

At the break, Ioane received a round of applause from the crowd as he left the field.

"Rieko Ioane has just been helped off the field by Blues staff," said Michael Atkinson on Stan Sport's coverage.

"Very sickening hit he had. I think it was a head collision, might have been a hip."

Mat Rogers added, "He was out cold and in a really bad way. We wish him all the best and hope he recovers well but we won't see him for the rest of the night."

Ioane left the field with assistance from Blues staff during the break having been sat on the field for several minutes.

Vern Cotter said Ioane had taken a "heavy hit" and wouldn't be returning to the field in the second half.

If Ioane is diagnosed with concussion, he could miss the all-important top of the table match against the Hurricanes in Auckland on May 11.