James McGougan has joined the lengthy list of Chiefs players ruled out for the season with the Steamers prop finally succumbing to his back injury.

With just one game left, against the Blues in Auckland on Friday night, McGougan has joined Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mils Muliaina and Bay of Plenty teammates Lelia Masaga and Mike Delany on the long-term injury list.

McGougan has a couple of bulging disks in his back, although they're not serious enough to warrant surgery yet.

The 25-year-old tighthead is now targeting the start of the ITM Cup in late July for his comeback, having made his only appearance for the Chiefs off the bench against the Cheetahs a fortnight ago.

"It was sore the week after, although not too bad - but the medical guys came back and said I should take six to eight weeks off," McGougan said.

"I just need a decent layoff, so I can come back and play without flaring it up all the time."

It means he'll miss the upcoming New Zealand Maori campaign - he was on the fringes of that side after making the New Zealand Juniors last year.

Aside from a spot of duck-shooting and visiting family in Whakatane, life will take on a relaxed outlook for the next two months.

"I'm terrible on PlayStation - that's Bourkey's (teammate Colin Bourke's) domain. In some ways it's good to just have a total layoff because it's just a s***  injury - completely frustrating. It's just wasted a whole season so it would be nice to think I can come back and play a whole season in the blue-and-gold jersey."

Delany wrecked his shoulder against the Stormers in Hamilton last month, fracturing his glenoid - the socket of the shoulder joint - and needing surgery which will keep him out of the game for six months.

New Steamers signing Masaga still has at least another month of recuperating after tearing a ligament in his right knee.