Makos lose James Lowe for season

The Tasman Makos have been struck a Lowe blow leading into their 2015 national provincial championship campaign with a key backline player ruled out for the season.

Influential winger/fullback James Lowe will have surgery in the next few weeks to repair shoulder damage sustained during his Super Rugby season with the Chiefs. The 22 year-old suffered a labrial tear in the cartilage surround his right shoulder joint and faces a six-month rehabilitation period, removing him from the Makos' playing roster and perhaps the early stages of next season's Super Rugby season.

"It's a bit of a bugger," said Lowe. "I got the injury halfway through the Chiefs' season, playing our second game against the Crusaders. I sat out for about six weeks there, rehabbed it so I could play again, but it's definitely not where I want it to be to play another season, that's for sure.

"I haven't been able to do any upper body weights for the last two or three months, so that's telling me that I need to get it fixed.

"Unfortunately it's at a time when the Tasman season is coming around. It's a shame, but that's part of rugby I guess." 

Tasman Rugby Union chief executive Tony Lewis described Lowe's absence as "a real kick in the guts".

"The Chiefs and New Zealand Rugby Union decided James needs an operation and he wants to have it done now. We have to respect that.

"It's a nuisance but there's nothing we can do about it. We explored every possibility but at the end of the day the player's welfare, long term, must come first."

Lowe will remain among the Tasman Makos' group of contracted players and is expected to spend time helping with off-field promotion of the game in the top of the south.

"That's all I can really do," said Lowe. "I'll be out and about in the community trying to spread the word and get the Makos' brand out there. It should be an exciting season."

Lowe played every minute of every game during the 2014 Makos NPC campaign, scoring eight tries. He starred on the wing for the Chiefs this year, providing a potent left-footed kicking option and being touted by some for All Blacks selection.

Makos head coach Kieran Keane said Lowe's withdrawal, at such a late stage of the side's season preparation had posed problems. "For him to be ruled out at this point of the season is a bit of an earthquake really. We knew he had a few niggles with the shoulder but didn't think it was that bad.

"He was brilliant for us last year, very good off the park as well – he had a wonderful season.

"It's a bit of a shock. Just when we thought everything was coming together well."