Leigh Halfpenny faces an uncertain Super Rugby Pacific season before the first competition game after tearing a pectoral muscle in the Crusaders' narrow pre-season defeat to Munster in Cork last weekend.
After the unique experience of performing the Crusaders haka alongside his teammates, Halfpenny, the highly experienced former Wales Test fullback, suffered the injury early in the 21-19 defeat.
He was a marquee signing for the defending champions but now faces a long spell on the sidelines. The Crusaders said in a statement that he was expected to take three to four months to heal post-surgery.
"He will have surgery up here, and once he is ready to fly he will come back home and rehab in Christchurch,'' assistant coach Tamati Ellison said in Bristol before the Crusaders play the Bears in the city on Saturday morning NZT.
"It is a real bummer for him. Especially having time here at the hotels and with the group. He is just really starting to open up, and get the best out of him. He will still help, even during his rehab period, around some of the kicking and the game-driving for a few of our younger boys. He has been great there, already.''
The Crusaders are preparing to play former All Blacks and Blues loose forward Steven Luatua, who now plays for Bristol.
The Crusaders will open their season with a match against the Chiefs in Hamilton on February 23.
Crusaders team to play Bristol: Chay Fihaki, Manasa Mataele, Jone Rova, Ryan Crotty, Macca Springer, Rivez Reihana, Willi Heinz (captain), Christian Lio-Willie, Corey Kellow, Dominic Gardiner, Jamie Hannah, Quinten Strange, Seb Calder, George Bell, Kershawl Sykes-Martin.
Reserves: Ioane Moananu, George Bower, Ryan Coxon, Antonio Shalfoon, Fletcher Anderson, Noah Hotham, Taha Kemara, Levi Aumua, Taine Robinson, Jack Gray, Gus Brown.
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