It rules him out of the rest of the Super Rugby season and at least some of the Rugby Championship Test series against Australia, South Africa and Argentina.

New Zealand’s 2011 Player of the Year, Kaino will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair damage on his shoulder which he suffered in the Blues’ second round 29-14 loss to the Chiefs.

Kaino had continued to play through the injury, thinking it was related to a recurring shoulder issue which he has so far managed successfully.

However, the injury did not improve, and subsequent investigations showed a piece of bone had been knocked off the shoulder joint.

“I really didn’t think this was going to take me out of the whole Blues season,” Kaino said.

“It certainly helped seeing the guys have a good win at Loftus in the weekend.”

Kaino stayed in New Zealand to see a specialist while the Blues picked up an invaluable 29-23 win over the Bulls in Pretoria. They play the Stormers in Cape Town next Saturday.

From South Africa, Blues coach Pat Lam said Kaino’s season-ending injury was a shock.

“Jerome is a great player and brings a lot to the Blues on and off the field. This is a real blow for him and I know, like us, he’s really disappointed he won’t be playing this season with the team.”