New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins has been cleared of a serious neck injury after he was stretchered off during a Super 14 match in Christchurch on Friday.
The 26-year-old Hurricanes forward, capped 38 times by the All Blacks, was taken off after a seemingly innocuous tackle during the 23-13 defeat by the Crusaders at Jade Stadium.
Collins lay on the field for several minutes after he and fellow Hurricane Chris Masoe had floored Crusaders centre Rua Tupoki in the 46th minute of the game.
A spokesperson for the Hurricanes said Collins had spent the night in Christchurch Hospital and would be seeing a specialist on Saturday.
Collins would be wearing a neck brace when he caught a flight to Wellington on Saturday, he added.
The spokesperson did not say how long Collins would be out of action but ruled out a return next weekend for the match against the Otago Highlanders. — Reuters