Ngani Laumape hopes to recover in time to feature for the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship later this year despite requiring surgery after breaking his arm.

The centre broke his arm in the Hurricanes’ stirring 34-32 win over the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday, ruling him out for the remainder of the Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign and possibly the rest of the 2020 season.

But Hurricanes coach Jason Holland says Laumape is confident of a full recovery before the season ends despite his diagnosis.

‘I know Ngani is an optimistic man and we’re hoping he can be back playing footy in November. That’s what his aim will be, around the start of November would be nice for him to get back,’ Holland said.

‘But with these things you never really know and we’ll see how the op goes. He was really hitting top form. He would have loved to put the black jersey on at the back end of the year and that still could happen. He’s obviously gutted and we’re all gutted, but he’s positive and will figure out what the next steps are.’

Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images