Rugby-All Blacks lock Tuipulotu all but ruled out of Rugby Championship with facial fracture

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) -New Zealand lock Patrick Tuipulotu may not play another test in the Rugby Championship after suffering a facial fracture against Argentina while centre Anton Lienert-Brown is out of the second Pumas match after failing concussion protocols.

Tuipulotu was taken to hospital after the All Blacks' 41-24 win last Saturday and will need surgery on his return to New Zealand.