PREM Champions Northampton pick up long-term injury during Test window

Zimbabwe and Northampton prop Cleopas Kundiona will be out of action for the foreseeable future after breaking his arm whilst on international duty at the weekend.

The tight-head suffered the blow in the first half of Zimbabwe’s 43-7 defeat to Samoa in the fourth round of the World Rugby Nations Cup at Wakefield RL’s DIY Kitchen’s Stadium.

It was the 27-year-old’s 20th cap for the Sables, who have qualified for their first Rugby World Cup since 1991.

Kundiona, who made his Test debut as a 19-year-old in June 2018, will be expected to anchor the African side’s scrum in Australia next year.

He has become an important player for Northampton, too, with the 125kg former Natal player clocking up seven appearances for Saints in all competition this season, all of them starts.

Kundiona has enjoyed plenty of game time due to Trevor Davison’s prolonged absence from the front row.

Former England international Davison has undergone three knee operations in the last year and has not played for the club since the end of March.

Depending on his comeback date, Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson may look to bring in a replacement to cover Kundiona, as Sonny Tonga’uiha and Ion Neculai are his only other options at tight-head.

Other than the Kundiona blow, Sables boss Pieter Benade has confirmed to RugbyPass they have a clean bill of health heading into this weekend’s match against Uruguay in Ealing.