McGougan may be sidelined all year | Bay of Plenty Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Bay of Plenty

Star Bay of Plenty frontrower James McGougan, involved in every one of the Chiefs' games last season in their run into the Super 14 final, is facing the possibility of being sidelined for the rest of the year.

McGougan has yet to see any action in this year's Super 14 and will on Friday seek answers about an ongoing back injury before a decision is made on his immediate future.

The 25-year-old injured his back playing for Bay of Plenty against Otago last October in the Air New Zealand Cup competition but was assured at the end of the season the three bulging discs would heal in time to play Super 14.

But the injury flared again preseason and McGougan was forced home early from the Chiefs' three-match trip to South Africa and Perth.

"It's a slow process trying to get back, frustrating as hell," McGougan, the Chiefs'  rookie of the year in 2009, said yesterday. "I've never been out this long and it's starting to do my head in. It's a sportsman's worst nightmare sitting on the sideline.

"Those two weeks in South Africa killed me, and the boys gave me heaps for being the team food bill, but it didn't hit home how hard it has been until last weekend's game (in Hamilton)."

McGougan had an MRI scan on his back at the end of last season, which showed slight bulges in three  discs, and had another scan last week. He will meet  the specialist on Friday, wanting answers.

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