Highlanders rookie's debut Super Rugby campaign over before it begins

The Highlanders have been dealt a blow ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby campaign, as rookie recruit Connor Garden-Bachop has been ruled out of action for the entirety of next season.

A lower back injury first sustained by the 20-year-old in February has continued to persist, and a decision has been made for the youngster to undergo surgery ahead of Christmas to fix the issue.

As a result, Garden-Bachop – younger brother of Hurricanes first-five Jackson – is facing a recovery period of six to seven months, meaning he won’t be available for selection again until at least next June.

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It’s a particularly cruel break for the Wellington outside back, who was in line to make his Super Rugby debut after being named in the Highlanders’ 2020 squad last month.

“It’s tough on Connor as I know he was extremely excited by the prospect of pulling on the Highlanders jersey for the first time,” Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger, who is also Garden-Bachop’s cousin, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“However, it’s the right decision, his back has been preventing him from training fully, he is still a very young player and it’s in his best interests to get it sorted now so we can rehab him well through the Super [Rugby] season, then he can come back strong through the Mitre 10 [Cup] competition later in the year.”

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In his absence, the Highlanders have drafted in Tasman Mako outside back Tima Fainga’anuku.

The hard-running wing, who is the older brother of Crusaders youngster Leicester, is a former New Zealand U20 representative who was part of the world champion side which won in Georgia two years ago.

After playing for the Crusaders last year and Top 14 club Perpignan on a short-term contract during the 2018-19 season, the 22-year-old returned to Tasman this season and was a standout player in their undefeated run to the Mitre 10 Cup title.

He could make his debut for the Highlanders as early as February 7, when they host the Sharks in their season-opener at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

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