Cruciate injury ends Ranger's season

Auckland - The Blues said on Monday that Rene Ranger had ruptured a knee ligament, ending the destructive centre's Super Rugby season and stalling his bid for an All Blacks recall.

The club said medics had confirmed Ranger ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the Blues' 23-18 win over the Sharks on Saturday and would undergo scans on Monday.

Such injuries typically take at least six months to heal, and often far longer, with intensive rehabilitation.

That would leave Ranger on the sidelines for the rest of the Super Rugby season, a major blow for the Blues as he has been one of the best performers in Tana Umaga's team.

It also dashes any hopes the 29-year-old harboured of making the All Blacks' home series against Wales in June and the Rugby Championship, beginning in August.

Ranger earned six international caps from 2010 to 2013 before leaving New Zealand for French club Montpellier.

He cut short his overseas stint to return to the Blues in 2015 but had to undergo neck surgery, which prevented him from playing until this year.