1. Albert Asher
This Maori pioneer winger severely damaged a knee falling from a ladder onto glass while working as a fire fighter in Auckland. Nicknamed The India Rubber Man, Asher bounced back to star for the 1908 and 1909 Maori teams in Australia and play for Australasia against the original British Lions at Sydney in 1910.
2. Tony Coll
The rugged Kiwis second-rower missed two tests on the 1980 tour of Britain and France after suffering rib damage when big, boisterous team manager Bill Nesbitt accidentally hit him with a backhanded punch after a sponsor's function in London.
3. Hugh McGahan
The official storyline said the rangy lock forward was unavailable for a 1982 trans-Tasman test at Sydney because of illness. McGahan later admitted he was suffering from haemeroids.
4. Mita Mohi
His debut in the Kiwis front-row at the 1972 World Cup in France was short-lived. Mohi had to be replaced because of calf muscle damage suffered while leading the haka.
5. Stephen Kearney and Jason Donnelly
Neither played on the 1993 Kiwis tour of France because of serious injuries received when the first-floor balcony of their Carcassonne hotel collapsed under them and they fell onto a brick footpath. Kearney was hospitalised for a week with serious head injuries and Donnelly broke an ankle and damaged his pelvis.
6. Stacey Jones
The champion halfback missed the 1999 Tri-Nations final at Auckland after breaking an arm in a colision with team-mate and old schoolmate Joe Vagana during a fill-in game against Tonga.
7. Michael Witt
The Warriors five-eighth had the best goalkicking strike-rate in the 2008 NRL until he misjudged a shot at goal against Canberra in round 8, hurting his quad. He has seldom been seen since.
8. Robert Orchard
The big Kiwis prop broke a toe in the shower before the 1971 test match against Australia at Carlaw Park. The injury was hushed up and Orchard scored a rampaging try in the Kiwis' 24-3 win.
9. Shane Dowsett
This unlucky halfback played only a few minutes of one game on the 1971 Kiwis tour of Britain after twisting his knee in a pre-tour training run at Warrington.
10. David Kidwell
South Sydney's star recruit was "taken out" by his two-year-old daughter at a family barbeque. The required knee reconstruction ruined his 2007 NRL season and cost him his place in the Kiwis pack.
Supplied by; John Coffey - Christchurch
