Rugby: Mika knee injury hits Blues plans

Bradley Mika's return to Eden Park has been hampered by injury. Photo / Greg Bowker

Plans to use Bradley Mika at No 8 for the Blues next season have been stymied because the former All Black has suffered a serious knee injury.

Mika has been playing in Japan for the past few seasons and had apparently accepted an offer to join the Blues squad for the Super 15.

However, the 29-year-old has damaged cruciate knee ligaments.

The Blues need to bolster several areas. Looseforwards Viliame Ma'afu, Tom Chamberlain and Serge Lilo are out of the reckoning, Ali Williams remains uncertain, while Paul Williams, Rudi Wulf and Anthony Tuitavake are overseas and George Pisi is with the Hurricanes.

Squads have been enlarged to 32 with coaches able to protect up to 28 players before they look to the draft, more from their region or good fortune to fill their quota.

The Blues have signed on looseforwards Daniel and Luke Braid while Northland captain Jared Payne is also available.

They hope to get some action from Williams, who has undergone two operations on his ruptured Achilles tendon since last year. Williams hopes to get a medical clearance to play in England or France this year, to help his recovery. He will be included in the Blues, which will put extra heat on other locking candidates.

Stephen Brett is returning as five eighths but his understudy remains uncertain. Auckland's Matt Berquist is reported to be heading for the Crusaders while Hawkes Bay's Daniel Kirkpatrick did the job this season. Harbour's Mike Harris could be called up, maybe Lachie Munro, while David Holwell has been playing strong rugby for Northland.

* The New Zealand Rugby Union said yesterday it would allow Super 15 sides to contract two foreign players as long as they did not duplicate specialist choices in other franchises.