Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rds 2-3

All the Super Rugby injuries in one place

Two weeks in and already the Casualty Ward for Super Rugby Pacific is building up. We are here week in, week out, to deliver all your injury news for the competition. We stay on top of all the latest news, with the added insights of our team's Physiotherapist and Podiatrist.

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New Injuries Round 2:

Ponipate Loganimasi (Drua) - Came off at half time, we now know it was due to a hip injury. We don’t know long he will be out for. Source.
Peni Ravai (Drua) - Came off for an HIA after a knock picked up by his mouth guard. Didn’t come back so must have failed it.
Temo Mayanavanua (Drua) - Right knee injury after 69 mins. Will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury. Source.
Carlo Tizzano (Western Force) - Came off after 70 minutes with what looked like a back injury. Recovered to start in rd 3.
Seru Uru (Reds) - Added to the Reds injury ward for rd 3.
Will Ross (Reds) - Listed as injured in rd 3. Source.

Israel Leota (Moana) - Came off after 15 minutes with an ankle sprain. Source.
William Havili (Moana) - Suffered a neck strain. Scans have cleared him of any serious injury so he is unlikely to miss too much game time. Source.
Simon Peter Toleafoa (Moana) - Added to the casualty ward with a knee injury this week. Source.
Brett Cameron (Hurricanes) - Stretchered off with a right knee injury. Looked like he had a heavy contact pushing the knee to the outside, so maybe an LCL injury, At best could be 4 weeks, at worst he would need an operation and 4-6 months. They have said it was the opposite knee to his last ACL, but this doesn’t actually make it any less likely it is an ACL this time. Going for scans so we should find out more soon. Source.
Jai Tamati (Hurricanes) - Looks to have picked up an ankle injury. Expected back rds 11-13. Source.
Jahrome Brown (Chiefs) - Failed his HIA in the first half, so he will go through concussion protocols. Confirmed to be ruled out of rd 3. Source.
Rivez Reihana (Crusaders) - Suffered an adductor strain (tear) during the week, pulled from the team late. Source.
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) - Suffered a rib injury during the game landing awkwardly on someones leg. Managed to play on so we assume it is just a bruising, not a fracture. Worst case he could be out 4-6 weeks if it is broken. Source.
Josh Fusitu'a (Blues) - Came off at halftime. We now know it was for an elbow injury. Source.
Flyn Yates (Blues) - Listed as injured from rd 3 with a neck injury. Source.

Likely Back for Round 3:

Harry Wilson (Reds) - Underwent minor surgery on his right knee on the 16th of Jan. He suffered the injury in September’s win over South Africa. With a six-week expected return, he is hoping to return for Round 3, which would be exactly six weeks. Source.
Carter Gordon (Reds) - Has a minor Leg injury, expected back in rd 3. Source.
Kalani Thomas (Reds) - Makes his comeback from injury via the bench in rd 3. Source.
Filipo Daugunu (Reds) - Returning via the bench this week.
Heremaia Murray (Reds) - No longer listed as injured. Source.
Josh Nasser (Reds) - Returns from injury via the bench this week.
Josh Flook (Reds) - Back starting after recovering from a rd 1 ankle injury.
Eli Langi (Brumbies) - No longer listed as injured for rd 3. Source.
Jarrah McLeod (Brumbies) - No longer listed in the 7s side or as injured, so he should be available for selection. Source.
Nic Dolly (Western Force) - Returns from off season knee surgery to start this week.
Darby Lancaster (Western Force) - Returns from a thigh injury this week.

Stanley Solomon (Highlanders) - Recovered from a shoulder injury in rd 3. Source.
Kyle Preston (Crusaders) - Came off with a concussion in rd 1. No longer listed as injured. Source.
Dallas McLeod (Crusaders) - Came off with a concussion in the trial on the 30th of Jan. On the bench this week. Source.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin (Crusaders) - Recovered from a hip injury for rd 3 but wasn’t named. Source.
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes) - Out with a calf injury. Expected back in rd 3. Source.
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes) - Was expected back from a thumb injury in rd 2. Source. However there was some doubt around if the specialist would clear him or not, so we don’t have confirmation that he will play this week yet.
Sam Darry (Blues) - Failed an HIA in rd 1. Returning this week.
Malachi Wrampling (Blues) - Missed rounds 1 and 2 with a concussion, no longer listed as injured. Source.
Wallace Sititi (Chiefs) - Returning from a hamstring injury via the bench in rd 3. Source.
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs) - Suffered a concussion in rd 1. Back on the bench in rd 3. Source.
Jayden Sa (Chiefs) - Recovered from a shoulder injury for rd 3 but wasn’t named. Source.
Lalakai Foketi (Chiefs) - Suffered a knee injury in the trial. Returning via the bench this week. Source.
Tevita Latu (Moana) - Recovered from a knee injury to take his spot on the bench.
Ola Tauelangi (Moana) - Recovered from a back injury to take his spot on the bench.
Tupou Afungia (Moana) - Recovered from a neck injury to take his spot on the bench.

Returned in Round 2:

Brad Shields (Hurricanes) - Returned via the bench after breaking his finger in the trials.
Peter Lakai (Hurricanes) - Returned from a calf injury in 2.
Xavier Numia (Hurricanes) - Came off in the trial on the 7th of Feb, shortly after taking a knock to his left arm. Recovered to start in rd 2.

Ongoing Injury List:

AUSTRALIA

Brumbies
Tom Wright - Expected to be sidelined until at least May as he recovers from an ACL injury he suffered against South Africa in August. A standard return to play date would be 9 months, although it can vary between 6-12 months. Source.
Lachlan Lonergan - Tore his ACL on the 9th of July playing for the Brumbies against the Lions. A nine-month return would put him back around April, but he returned to full training on the 9th of Jan, so we believe he is well ahead of that date. Source.
Allan Alaalatoa - Will miss the start of the Super season due to a back injury that has plagued him since the back end of last year. Apparently, his scan doesn’t give a single clear reason for his symptoms, so they are giving him time to recover with no clear return date as of yet. Source.
Nick Frost - Rested for rd 1 and 2, was expected back in rd 3 but it hasn’t eventuated. As far as we know he is not injured. Source.

Reds
Tate McDermott - Suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery against the All Blacks in late September. As of the 8th of Jan he didn’t have a return date, but the estimated 4-6 months recovery could put him as late as the end of March. Given he isn’t expected to run until the end of Jan, I’d suggest he won’t return before late Feb at the earliest. Source.
Massimo De Lutiis - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Tom Lynagh - Hasn’t played since the Lions series as he deals with concussion and hamstring issues. Potentially will be back for rd 4. Source.
Will McCulloch - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Ben Volavola - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.

Waratahs
Angus Scott-Young - Fractured his eye socket in an altercation with Miles Amatosero. We’d have thought he was out for another couple of weeks with this one, but he is now listed as being out with a calf injury. Source.
Austin Durbidge - Currently out as of rd 1 with a forearm injury. Source.
Eamon Doyle - Currently out as of rd 1 with an ankle injury. Source.
Folau Fainga’a - Was knocked out in rd 1, should return after the rd 3 bye if all went well with his recovery.

Western Force
Doug Philipson - Missed the preseason with a knee injury, and still listed as a long-term injury in rd 1. Source.
Feao Fotuaika - Missed the first trial with a foot injury. Considered a medium-term injury as of rd 1. Source.
Alex Harford - Left the field in the trial against the Reds on Jan 23rd, holding his arm or shoulder in his jersey. Listed as a long-term injury in rd 3. Source.
Nick Champion de Crespigny - Looked like he injured his MCL (ligament on the inside of his knee) in rd 1. He taped it and tried to play on, but couldn’t manage it. This is never a good sign because low grade MCL’s can be played through. We are predicting a grade 2+ and at least a 4-6 week injury. They have called it a short term injury. Source.
Dylan Pietsch - Out with a plantar fascia injury. Hopefully going to return after their NZ trip and the rd 6. Source.

NEW ZEALAND

Blues
Patrick Tuipulotu - Missed the All Blacks’ northern tour as he recovers from AC (shoulder) surgery in October. His current return is aimed at rd 9. Source.
Beauden Barrett - Expected to miss the first three rounds as part of his All Blacks resting protocol. Source.
Payton Spencer - Was knocked out in the trial against the Hurricanes on Jan 30th. We would hope he is good to go soon. Source.
Corey Evans - Missing rd 1 and 2 with an ankle injury. No confirmation on a return date. Source.
Jordan Lay - Missed rd 1 to 3 with a concussion. No return date set yet. Source.

Chiefs
Brodie McAlister - Suffered a broken hand at training in the last week of January. Set to sideline him for the first three rounds (Back rd 5). Source.
Taine Kolose - The young hooker is nursing a knee niggle and will miss the start of the season. Source.
Sione Ahio - Currently out with an ankle injury. No return date set yet. Source.
Isaac Hutchinson - Recovering from a knee injury. Aiming to return in round 8. Source.
Damian McKenzie - Missed rd’s 1 & 2 due to the birth of first child. Back training but sounds like he is likely to return for rd 4. Source.
Cortez Ratima - Missing rd 2 and 3 due to the birth of his second child. Source.

Crusaders
Scott Barrett - Still finalising his return date from the sabbatical, but his intention is to return sometime in May. Source.
Maloni Kunawave - Came off with a hamstring injury in the trial on the 30th of Jan. Expected back rd 7-9. Source.
Johnny McNicholl - Out with a hamstring injury. Aiming to return in rd 5. Source.
Liam Jack - Out with a hamstring injury. Aiming to return in rd 7-9. Source.
Cooper Roberts - Out with a Fibula injury. Aiming to return in rd 9-11. Source.
Cullen Grace - Currently has a knee injury. No set return date yet. Source.
Macca Springer - Out with a Quad injury. Was meant to return for rd 3, now listed as TBC so we wonder if he had a flare up. Source.
Mitch Drummond - Recovering from a concussion. Still unavailable in rd 3. Source.

Highlanders
Finn Hurley - Has a “stress around his foot”, which sounds like a stress fracture. Originally expected back in rd 5, now pushed back to rd 9. Source.
Hugh Renton - Had off-season surgery. No longer listed as injured in rd 3 so might be returning via their development side. Source.
Jake Te Hiwi - Returning from surgery, back on the field again but still a little way off by the sounds of it on Feb 3rd. Source.
Saula Ma’u - Carrying a shoulder injury. Expected back in rd 8. Source.
Andrew Knewstubb - Expected back from a quad muscle injury in rd 4. Source.
Angus Ta’avao - Off on compassionate leave for rd 2 and 3 due to the death of his son after rd 1. Source.
Xavier Tito-Harris - Was expected back from a hamstring injury in rd 3, pushed back to rd 4. Source.

Hurricanes
Kini Naholo - Expected to return from his ACL Recon (in mid-May) by rd 4 to 6. Source.
Caleb Delany - Expected back from a calf injury around rd 4. Source.
Tom Allen - Expected back from a leg for rd 2. Source.
Du’Plessis Kirifi - Expected back from a calf injury in rd 4. Source.
Ruben Love - Sustained an ankle injury while training with the squad in the lead-up to round 1. Originally targetted rd 5, now changed to rd 6-8 as we predicted. Source.
Josh Timu - Out with a foot injury. Expected back rd 9-11. Source.

PASIFIKA TEAMS

Fijian Drua
Meli Derenalagi - Expected to miss the bulk of the season due to a 2nd ACL injury he suffered in April 2025. He could return at 9 months (late Jan), but it is more likely he is closer to 12 months, given it is his 2nd ACL injury. Source.
Mesulame Dolokoto - Listed as out as of rd 2 with a knee injury. Source.
Meli Tuni - Listed as out as of rd 2 with a knee injury. Source.
Simione Kuruvoli - Listed as out as of rd 2 with a shoulder injury. Source.
Aisea Nawai - Listed as out as of rd 2 with a leg injury. Source.

Moana Pasifika
Niko Jones - Off injured with a foot injury as of the last trial on the 7th Feb. Back integrating into the team in rd 3 so should return soon. Source.
Augustine Pulu - Currently unavailable to due a calf injury. No return date announced. Source.
Jimmy Tupou - Currently unavailable to due an elbow injury. No return date announced. Source.
Paula Latu - Currently unavailable with a knee injury. No return date announced. Source.

Gone for the season:

Dylan Pledger (Highlanders) - Ruled out of all rugby for the year following a training ground accident that resulted in a complete rupture of his ACL in January. Source.
Fabian Holland (Highlanders) - Now confirmed he dislocated his right shoulder while trying to pilfer during a ruck on the 6th of Feb. Confirmed he will be out for the full Super Rugby season with an aim to return in the July international window. Source.
Harry Godfrey (Hurricanes) - Expected to miss the 2026 Super Rugby season due to an ACL injury. Source.
Cam Christie (Blues) - Hobbled off with a knee ligament injury in the Jan 30th trial. Now confirmed, he is out for the season. Source.

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Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.