Williams injured the same Achilles he had surgery on last year

New Zealand lock Ali Williams is unlikely to play again until the end of the year after it was revealed he needs a third Achilles tendon operation.

The 29-year-old missed most of last season with a similar problem and made a short-lived comeback in January.

"While the procedure to connect the tendon to his joint is intact it has caused a tear further up his tendon," said All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson.

"As a result he needs a third operation involving tendon reconstruction."

The Auckland Blues forward won the first of his 61 international caps in 2002 and was in the All Black squads for the 2003 and 2007 World Cups.

If fit, he is widely expected to be included in the squad for next year's tournament, but has hardly played in the last 18 months and is now unlikely to be fit for New Zealand's end-of-year tour of the British Isles.

606: DEBATE Ali will be back. He was easily playing his best rugby before his first injury. obarium

Williams injured himself twice during last year's Super 14 and withdrew from the All Blacks squad while preparing for a Test last June, undergoing surgery in July.

He attempted a comeback for Auckland at the start of 2010, but he injured himself after just three minutes of the game while changing direction when running, and was unable to put any weight on his right leg as he was assisted from the field.

It was during rehab for the surgery resulting from that injury that the latest problem emerged, and the third operation became necessary.

"It's obviously a frustrating and distressing time for Ali but throughout his setbacks over the last year he has remained optimistic about his situation and is keen to overcome his injuries and get back on the rugby field," added Dr Robinson.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry expressed his sympathy, saying: "Everyone involved in the All Blacks feels for Ali and we will continue to give him our full support as he goes through further surgery and rehabilitation."

New Zealand will play all four Home Nations on successive weekends as part of their November tour, starting with England at Twickenham on 7 November, before taking on Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version