Brodie Retallick's family heatbreak

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick will not be travelling to South Africa for the test against the Springboks after his wife lost their baby boy prematurely.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen confirmed the news this afternoon.

"We're really feeling for them at this sad time and our thoughts are with them and their families," said Hansen.

"As a result, Brodie will stay home with Niki and rejoin the team when the time is right."

Retallick, 26, and his wife, Niki Thompson, already have a one-year-old daughter, Sienna.

The couple married in a Hawke's Bay ceremony in 2015.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.