All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup after undergoing surgery on a quadriceps injury which will keep him out of rugby for three months.

The 22-year-old injured the muscle in the Crusaders' win over the Stormers in Cape Town on May 7 and the decision to operate on Monday was made after he saw a specialist in Christchurch.

Dagg said was optimistic of making a return to the field for his province Hawkes Bay before the All Blacks selectors choose their World Cup squad.

"Hopefully I can get a couple of games in for the Magpies and play my way into the World Cup.

"It's definitely not the time to be injured but if we do everything right with the rehab I could be back playing by the end of July.

"I'll just have to take each step of the rehab as it comes, get the strength back in the quad again and keep positive," Dagg said.

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