FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Italy v New Zealand - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - November 24, 2018 New Zealand's Patrick Tuipulotu in action REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/File photo
(Reuters) - Auckland Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu will miss the remainder of the Super Rugby Pacific season after suffering a knee injury in his side's quarter-final win over the Fijian Drua on Saturday.
The Blues confirmed Tuipulotu will be out of action for between six and seven weeks after damaging the medial ligament in his right knee during the 36-5 victory.
Auckland will face the ACT Brumbies in the semi-finals at Eden Park on Friday with the final to be played on June 22.
Tuipulotu will also miss the start of the All Blacks' season, which begins on July 6 with the first of three home tests against England in Dunedin.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Kim Coghill)
