Casualty Ward Aotearoa Rd 7, AU Rd 4
The Casualty Ward is your one stop shop for all injury news, with the added insights of our team's Physiotherapist and Podiatrist.
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Returned from injury (Aotearoa Rd 7 & AU Rd 4):
Ben May (Hurricanes) – Pulled from the starting side with an injury pregame in rd 6. Pushed up into the starting side of Lomax got pulled this week.
Marika Koroibete (Rebels) – Back from a Rd 2 concussion.
Matt Gibbon (Rebels) – Recovered from a shoulder injury in rd 2.
Nick Frost (Brumbies) – Made his comeback from an unknown injury this week.
Solomone Kata (Brumbies) – Had his first run of Super Rugby AU after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Jake Gordon (Waratahs) – First game back off the bench from a hamstring injury.
Likely back this week (Aotearoa Rd 8 & AU Rd 5):
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Chiefs) – Was stretchered off after an ugly head clash, still going through concussion protocols in rd 7. Source.
Daniel Carter (Blues) – Strained his calf in training the Thursday before rd 6. Was unlikely to be fit for rd 7 so a possibility of playing this week. Source.
James Parsons (Blues) – Still on the comeback trail from a concussion in Rd 5. Source.
Braydon Ennor (Crusaders) – Out for 1-2 weeks with a foot injury after someone stepped on it in rd 6. Source.
Angus Bell (Waratahs) – Missed the last two weeks with a back injury. We think he is a chance this week, but there has been no word yet. Source.
Jordan Petaia (Reds) – Dislocated his shoulder before the COVID break, in the mix to return this week. Source.
Angus Blyth (Reds) – Subbed at half time for a shoulder injury in Rd 2. Should be back this week. Source.
New Injuries (Aotearoa Rd 7 AU Rd 4):
Fraser Armstrong (Hurricanes) - Broke his arm and won't play again in SR Aotearoa. Source.
Peter Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes) - Suffered a concussion and will go through normal protocols over the next two weeks (with his bye). Source.
Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes) - Came off with a broken wrist. Having surgery on the 30th of July and aiming for a return in mid-November. Source.
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes) - Pulled from the starting side pre-game. Source.
Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes) - Pulled from the bench pre-game. Source.
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes) - Pulled from the bench pre-game. Source.
Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs) - Dislocated his shoulder after scoring a try and won't take part in the rest of SR Aotearoa. Source.
Joe Moody (Crusaders) - Misses rd 8 with a family bereavement. Source.
Whetukamokamo Douglas (Crusaders) - Misses rd 8 with an MCL (knee) injury. Source.
Jordan Uelese (Rebels) - Injured his ankle badly in the warm-up, played with it heavily strapped but ended up succumbing to the injury.
Dane Haylett-Petty (Rebels) - Didn't return from the half time break after picking up a knee injury. Source.
Pone Fa'amausili (Rebels) - Came off with what we think was a calf injury.
Rob Simmons (Waratahs) - Came off with broken ribs, aiming to play in 2-3 weeks. Source.
James Slipper (Brumbies) - Came off with what we think is an ankle injury.
Harry Hoopert (Reds) - Will be sidelined for another four or five weeks with an MCL (knee) injury suffered against the Force in Round Three. Source.
New Players Aotearoa Rd 8
Brayden Iose (Hurricanes) - Plays loose forward. Source.
Jarred Adams (Hurricane) - A prop that recently played with the Sunwolves. Source.
Julian Savea (Hurricanes) - The former Hurricanes legend won’t be considered for the Chiefs match after no competitive rugby since his return from France. Source.
Ongoing Injury List:
NEW ZEALAND
Highlanders
Nehe Milner-Skudder – Hasn’t played rugby in 18 months after consecutive shoulder injuries. The return date keeps being pushed back and he is now targetting rd 8. Source.
Ngatungane Punivai – Still going through concussion protocols, so won’t be available to play the Chiefs in rd 6. Source.
Chiefs
Nathan Harris – Had a rotator cuff (shoulder muscle) repair on the 15th of January. Out for at least six months and was set to miss all of Super Rugby. A chance to get a run during this season but we haven’t heard anything. Source.
Angus Ta’avou – Had an operation to repair his quad tendon. Awaiting clearance to play before rd 7. Source.
Aidan Ross – Came off with a calf tear in rd 6. Didn't play in rd 7. Source.
Hurricanes
Kane Le’aupepe – Has had hip surgery in mid December to repair a torn labrum and remove a CAM impingement. He will be out for 5-6 months. It is worth noting that these injuries vary massively with a return to sport time, it could really be 4-9 months! Source.
Dane Coles – Didn't travel with the squad for rd 7 due to a minor back injury. Source.
Crusaders
Manasa Mataele (Crusaders) - Still in the process of returning from a knee injury as of rd 8. Source.
Blues
Tom Robinson – Had a meniscal tear cleaned up in his knee after rd 1. Recovery said to be 6-8 weeks, they are targeting 5-6. Generally, it varies from 1-12 weeks so it is hard to guess from the outside. Source.
Hoskins Sotutu – Suffered a knee injury which ruled him out of rd 6 and rd 7. No word on a return date yet but there is some language suggesting he might be back soon. Source.
AUSTRALIA
Western Force
Greg Holmes – Broke his thumb in rd 6. It is unclear exactly how long he will be sidelined. Source.
Ian Prior – Subbed after only 20 minutes having copped a stinger. Went for a shoulder scan and now won’t play rd 4, so it may be more serious than initially thought. Source.
Brumbies
Toni Pulu – Had shoulder surgery early March, still wasn’t back training in mid-May, so he is unlikely to play anytime soon. Source.
Cadeyrn Neville – Expected to miss the first 2-3 weeks of the relaunched Super Rugby season after having ankle surgery during the shutdown. Source.
Ryan Lonergan – Missed rd 1 with an ankle injury, was a chance for rd 3. Source.
Noah Lolesio – Tore his hamstring in rd 3. The results suggest he is out for 8 weeks, giving him a target of playing in a grand final. Source.
Reds
Moses Sorovi – Seen limping around on crutches during rd 4. Still injured in mid-March. Source.
Rebels
James Tuttle – Ruptured his Achilles twice! First in October 2018, and again five months into his rehab. Was aiming to play a few weeks into the regular season, so hopefully will be competing for a spot in SR AU. Source.
Anaru Rangi – Could miss the full season with “a personal health issue”. Source.
Brad Wilkin – Still coming back from an ACL reconstruction, was back doing full fitness before rd 1 SR AU. Source.
Tom English – Was meant to be playing in Japan, training with the squad but can’t be selected unless his trip is canceled. Source.
Semisi Tupou – Suffered an ACL injury in the preseason, a slight chance to come back before the end of the season. Source.
Isi Naisarani – Was aiming to return in rd 4 from his hamstring injury but didn’t make it back in time. Source.
Waratahs
Lalakai Foketi – Hasn’t played yet due to a torn hamstring. Was going through a fitness test before rd 4, but didn’t end up being named. Source.
Gone for the season:
Baden Wardlaw (Blues) – Forced to retire before the season due to a chronic neck fusion. Source.
Ray Niuia (Blues) – Has a knee injury that will cost him his season. Source.
Tanielu Tele’a (Blues) – Had a shoulder injury after round 6 and is out for the season. Source.
Stephen Perofeta (Blues) – Has been ruled out for the season, opening the door for Dan Carter to sign for the Blues. No more detail on his injury yet.
Ricky Jackson (Highlanders) – The hooker will miss the entire SR campaign with an ankle injury and operation. Nathan Vella brought in to replace him. Source.
James Lentjes (Highlanders) – Fracture dislocated his ankle in rd 5, will have surgery and is gone for the season. The expected recovery is 6-9 months. Source.
Connor Garden-Bachop (Highlanders) – Had an operation on his back due to return in June but his spot in the side has been taken. Source.
Tevita Nabura (Highlanders) – Still getting over an operation on his lower back after he suffered an injury at training just before Christmas, was expected back in April but his spot has been taken. Source.
Sam Gilbert (Highlanders) – Tore his ACL in rd 3 and will miss 9 months. Source.
Josh Dickson (Highlanders) – Has broken a bone in his lower leg in Aotearoa Rd 5 and will miss the remainder of the season. He is expected to be out for four months, so we expect he had to have it operated on. Source.
Kayne Hammington (Highlanders) – Fractured a bone in his hand late in the match against the Hurricanes and will miss the remainder of the campaign. Source.
Atu Moli (Chiefs) – Had FAI (hip impingement) surgery on both hips to treat chronic hip dysfunction. He will miss the entire season. Source.
Michael Allardice (Chiefs) – Gone for the season having undergone surgery for a shoulder reconstruction. Source.
Laghlan McWhannell (Chiefs) – Gone for the season having gone under the knife to have a patellar tendon debridement (this is not a good sign for such a young player). Source.
Sam McNicol (Chiefs) – Gone for the season after ankle surgery to correct his anterior impingement and clean up his joint surfaces. Source.
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) – Fractured his hand against the Blues. The recovery time for the injury is 5 to 6 weeks but the Chiefs are taking a cautious approach and don’t expect him to play this season. Source.
Tyler Ardron (Chiefs) – Will now leave the squad to start his contract with Castres. Source.
Scott Barrett (Crusaders) – Tore his plantar fascia in the intrasquad trial. Had surgery on the 25th of June and will miss the full Super Rugby season. There is no definite return time as the research is pretty limited, my expectation is roughly 6 months, but it could be double that. Source.
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders) – Now had a meniscus clean up in his knee after being scratched from rd 4. Gone for the season. Source.
Cullen Grace (Crusaders) – Ruled out of action for 6-8 weeks with a Bennett’s fracture (fractured thumb) that requires an operation in rd 3. Gone for the season. Source.
David Havili (Crusaders) – Suffered a Bennett’s fracture in his thumb and will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season. Source.
Gareth Evans (Hurricanes) – Now ruled out for the full SR Aotearoa season. We suspect from his ankle injury. Source.
Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin (Brumbies) – ruled out of Super Rugby season after rupturing his Achilles on the 25th of January. Source.
Blake Enever (Brumbies) – Has been released by the Brumbies to return home to Brisbane immediately on compassionate grounds where he will continue his recovery from a lower leg injury. Source. Now confirmed he has signed for Leicester. Source.
Isaac Lucas (Reds) – Had his RA contract torn up after rejecting a pay cut from the Reds. Expected to sign for a Japanese rugby club. Source.
Harry Hockings (Reds) – Had his RA contract torn up after rejecting a pay cut from the Reds. Expected to sign for a Japanese rugby club. Source.
Izack Rodda (Reds) – Had his RA contract torn up after rejecting a pay cut from the Reds. Apparently he still might reverse his decision to leave. Source.
Henry Speight (Reds) – Has been released from his contract to take up a 3-year contract with Biarritz, won’t play Super Rugby AU. Source.
Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs) – Retired from professional rugby before the AU season started. Source.
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) – Won’t take any part in Super Rugby AU after being released early to take up his contract with Racing 92. Source.
Mack Mason (Waratahs) – Still on contract until November but has been allowed to seek employment on his farm in Queensland and isn’t back training with the squad. Source.
Chris Alcock (Western Force) – Has just announced his retirement prior to the start of Super Rugby AU. Source.
Luke Jones (Rebels) – Released early to play overseas and won’t play in Super Rugby AU.
Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.
Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.