Highlanders dealt another injury blow

The Highlanders' Super 14 rugby campaign has taken another big blow with the withdrawal of veteran flanker Andrew Blowers from the squad.

Coach Greg Cooper said today that Blowers, who has yet to play a competition game for the Highlanders, has had to pull out on medical grounds.

Blowers' withdrawal follows similar exits by backs Matt Saunders and Paul Williams, and the loss of first five-eighth Nick Evans because of a broken collar bone while in South Africa.

Blowers, who turned 31 yesterday, suffered concussion in a clash with teammate Ben Blair in a warmup match against the Reds last month.

"The medical advice is that he has recurring problems associated with that and he regretfully had no option but to withdraw from the squad," Cooper said.

Blowers, who played 18 times for the All Blacks between 1996 and 1999, returned to New Zealand this year after overseas careers with Northampton in England and in Japan.

Cooper said no replacement had yet been made.

- NZPA