White, Bates join Chiefs casualty list

Steven Bates

Prop Nathan White is the latest Chiefs casualty with a knee injury spelling an early end to his Super 14 rugby season.

White is likely to be ruled out of rugby for six weeks with cartilage damage, the Chiefs said in a statement today.

He was awaiting a scan on the injury today, suffered during the Chiefs' upset 37-33 win over the Waratahs in Hamilton on Saturday.

Loose forward Steven Bates is another in doubt for Saturday's final round match against the Blues in Auckland.

Team management said Bates suffered an elbow hyper-extension against the Waratahs and while he was making progress, he wasn't a certain starter for the Blues match.

Centre Niva Ta'auso and hooker Tom Willis, who missed the Waratahs match with an ankle injury and concussion respectively, were both rated doubtful starters for the Blues match.

- NZPA