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Crusaders fullback Will Jordan in action against the Blues during last year’s Super Rugby final in Auckland.
All Blacks and Crusaders outside back Will Jordan looks set to miss the start of the Super Rugby season due to the lingering issue which ended his 2022 season.
Jordan didn’t travel to the northern hemisphere last year due to what the All Blacks called an “inner ear issue”, but is now being called a “migraine-related condition”.
The Crusaders provided an update on Jordan’s status on Tuesday, less than two weeks before they open their Super Rugby Pacific title defence against the Chiefs in Christchurch.
“Will Jordan is continuing to progress his involvement in rugby training following the diagnosis of a migraine-related condition during the 2022 All Black season. Related symptoms continue to settle, and specialist opinion has confirmed they are not concussion related,” the statement said.
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“He is working towards a return to play for the Crusaders, but the exact time-frame of this is uncertain.”
Jordan has been spotted training with the Crusaders since the All Blacks returned from their extended breaks, but won’t be amongst their representatives to play against the Hurricanes in Friday’s pre-season match against the Hurricanes in Levin.
The 24-year-old was sidelined with a similar problem in 2018, when the Crusaders struggled to determine why the then newly signed outside back wasn’t feeling 100%.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF
Aaron Webb has seen many changes in ten years managing the Crusaders Academy, but they’re still aimed at making better people.
Eventually, the medical team determined it wasn’t due to the head knock he took playing for Tasman during the NPC, but rather an inner-ear issue, which caused vertigo and vision impairment.
Just who the Crusaders run out at fullback while Jordan works his way back isn’t so clear-cut now that veteran George Bridge has departed.
Moving midfielder David Havili back to his old favourite position is one option, particularly with All Blacks midfielder Jack Goodhue healthy again.
Paul Kane/Getty Images
Chay Fihaki could be in line to start at fullback for the Crusaders while Will Jordan is out of action.
However, third-year utility Chay Fihaki, who has started in the No 15 jersey in the past, is likely the front-runner to fill the void.
Rookie Macca Springer, described as a Will Jordan-George Bridge hybrid by one Crusaders staff member, and former Blues utility Melani Nanai are also options.
Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson will on Wednesday name his team for Friday’s final pre-season hit out.
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