Louwrens' season over with knee injury

4 Apr 2017 Super Rugby

Ryan Louwrens will be out for nine months. Photo: Getty Images

The Force have been by another injury blow, with halfback Ryan Louwrens out for the season.

Louwrens played just nine minutes of last weekend's loss to the Blues before suffering a knee injury, that has been confirmed as a ruptured ACL.

Force coach Dave Wessels was initially optimistic about his injury, with Louwrens walking around post-match, but scans produced the bad news on Monday.

Louwrens has been close to the Force's best player so far this season and one of the form halfbacks across the Australian conference.

Wessels spoke of Louwrens' value after Saturday's match.

"I'm pretty biased but I think Ryan's the best nine, the form nine in Australia at the moment so it means a lot for us to have him," he said.

Force skipper Ben McCalman is in line for a return to the fray this week against the Kings, while lock Adam Coleman (calf) is likely to be back after the side's round eight bye.

The Force take on the Kings this Sunday, kicking off at 4:05pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via radio on RUGBY.com.au.