RUGBY NEWS:JOE ROKOCOKO has been ruled out of New Zealand's Test series against Ireland and England after undergoing surgery on a wrist.

The 24-year-old Blues winger injured his right wrist during the defeat to the Western Force in a Super 14 match at North Harbour last month.

The Auckland Blues team doctor, Stephen Kara, said Rokocoko was not in pain but had ruptured a ligament, which could cause long-term problems without surgery.

The recovery after surgery will take at least three months.

Rokocoko said: "It's hard for me to leave the team and not play, especially when my wrist doesn't really hurt.

"But I'm in the hands of the medical staff and the long-term risks outweigh any option to keep on playing for the short term."

The Blues' coach David Nucifora said: "Joe is a much-valued team-mate in our squad. His contribution on and off the field for the Blues this season has been tremendous and we will certainly miss him from our ranks."

Rokocoko would have been a likely selection in Graham Henry's All Blacks squad for Tests against Ireland and England.

The All Blacks meet Ireland in Wellington on June 7th, before playing a two-Test series against World Cup finalists England on June 14th in Auckland and June 21st in Christchurch.

The annual Tri-Nations competition with South Africa and Australia begins on July 5th with the All Blacks hosting the World Cup-winning Springboks in Wellington.

Meanwhile, New South Wales Waratahs centre Ben Jacobs will also miss the remainder of the Super 14 after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Saturday against the Auckland Blues.

Jacobs will undergo surgery on the injury tomorrow, the Waratahs said in a statement.

"It's really bad luck for BJ because he has made the number 13 jersey his own over the last couple of years," Waratahs head coach Ewen McKenzie said.