Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final
All the Super Rugby injuries in one place
In the final week of the competition, we bring you the latest injury news to round us out. 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 Grand Final:
Sione Ahio (Chiefs) - Came off early with a concussion.
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs) - Came off early in the second half with a concussion.
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs) - HIA in a huge tackle on Jordie Barrett. Didn’t return to the field.
Returned in the Grand Final:
Devan Flanders (Hurricanes) - Knocked out in an unlucky collision in rd 15. Returned to star at blindside flank.
Siale Lauaki (Hurricanes) - Was expected back from a hamstring injury in the Semi, but managed to take his place on the bench for the final.
End of Season Injury List:
AUSTRALIA
Brumbies
Dan Nelson - Fractured his fibula in his lower leg before d 5. Ruled out for the remainder of the season. Source.
Kye Oates - Fracture dislocation of his ankle before rd 8. He has already had an operation. They said he is aiming to be back in 12 weeks (so won’t play again this season), but I think this is probably being hopeful. Source.
Tuaina Taii Tualima - Out with a shoulder injury as of rd 12. Had surgery and will miss the rest of the season. Source.
Chris Mickelson - Sustained an ACL injury in rd 15. Out for the rest of the season. Source.
Kadin Pritchard - Ruled out of rd 16 with a high-grade hamstring injury. Will miss the rest of the year. Source.
Blake Schoupp - Was helped off in the quarter-final with a Lisfranc injury. We believe this means he will be out for 3-6 months.
Reds
Hunter Paisami - Looks to have injured his MCL. Was seen in a knee brace on the sideline, so we think there is a good chance his Super Rugby season is done. Source.
Nicholas Conway - Listed as injured in rd 4. Source.
Tom Lynagh - Still struggling with a calf injury. Source.
Trevor King - Newly added to the Reds injury squad for rd 12. Source.
Kingsley Uys - Newly added to the Reds injury squad for rd 12, but he has been injured for at least 2 weeks. Source.
Frankie Goldsbrough - Damaged his shoulder against NZ U20’s during rd 12. Source.
Isaac Henry - Listed as injured before rd 15. Source.
John Bryant - Listed as injured for the quarter-finals. Source.
Seru Uru - Listed as injured for the quarter-finals. Source.
Waratahs
Angus Blyth - Suffered a left ankle injury in rd 13. Judging by how his foot got caught under the maul and how it was being assessed, he looks to have suffered a syndesmosis injury. This is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season.
Ethan Dobbins - Suffered a Lisfranc injury (foot) in rd 13 and will miss the rest of the season. Source.
Folau Fainga’a - Succumbed to a left knee injury in rd 13 shortly after having it caught in a bit of an awkward tackle. McKellar said he was gone for the season in his post-match presser for rd 15.
Tom Lambert - Came off with a knee injury in rd 12. We can’t confirm the injury details yet, but it sounds like he won’t play again in Super Rugby this year.
Austin Durbidge - Has a concussion as of rd 16. Source.
Charlie Gamble - Missed rd 16 with a thumb injury. Source.
Pete Samu - Looked like he reinjured his MCL in his knee in rd 16. We assume it wasn’t his ACL the medical team let him try to play on.
Miles Amatasero - Suffered a concussion in rd 16.
Jake Gordon - Ruptured his Achilles in rd 16 so he will be gone for 6-9 months. Source.
Western Force
Darby Lancaster - Came down from taking a highball very awkwardly on his ankle in rd 8. The alarm bells rang after he said his “career” was over in a rd 10 interview; this has now been confirmed to be a mistake; he will just miss the rest of Super Rugby 2026. Source.
Henry Robertson - Tore his ACL in rd 13, will be out for the year. 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 medium-term injury in rd 12. Source.
Ronan Leahy - Missed from rd 9 onwards with a knee injury. Source.
Tom Robertson - Injured his calf and missed rd 14-16. Source.
NEW ZEALAND
Blues
AJ Lam - Came off with a concussion in the semifinal, picked up by his mouthguard.
Caleb Clarke - Came off with a concussion in the semifinal, picked up by his mouthguard.
Finlay Christie - Came off at half-time in the semifinal. No word as to why.
Cam Christie - Hobbled off with a knee ligament injury in the Jan 30th trial. Now confirmed, he is out for the season. Source.
James Cameron - As of rd 16 he has an injury to his legs. He is out for the season. Source.
Hemopo Cunningham - As of rd 16 he is out with a foot injury. He is out for the season. Source.
Jordan Lay - Missed the year through concussion. No return date set yet. Source.
Ben Ake - Came off in rd 12 after getting his foot caught spinning in a tackle. The mechanism looked like a syndesmosis injury; he was also grabbing at his shin, which fits our suspicion.
Sam Matenga - Listed as having a neck injury from rd 14. Source.
Dalton Papali’i - Broke his jaw in round 13 and had surgery. Was aiming to be fit for the grand final but won’t get a chance to play. Source.
Josh Fusitu’a - Injured his elbow in rd 2 and had a biceps operation. Was meant to play rd 16 but got pulled late, apparently with a new hamstring injury.
Kurt Eklund - Missed both finals games with a back injury. Source.
Sam Nock - Suffered a suspected broken hand in the quarter-final.
Chiefs
Daniel Rona - Listed as having a hand injury for the QF. Return date is tbc. Source.
Wallace Sititi - Suffered a sickening concussion in the QF. Didn’t recover in time for the Grand Final. Source.
Lalakai Foketi - Suffered a calf injury in the semi-final. Source.
Isaac Hutchinson - Looked to injure his MCL in a tackle as he scored his try in the semifinal. They taped him up, but he couldn’t play on. This would suggest it is at least a grade two injury.
Reuben O’Neill – Missed the back end of the season with a lingering concussion. Source.
Jayden Sa - Suffered a new shoulder injury in rd 5. Confirmed he is out for the season. Source.
Etene Nanai-Seturo - Missed rd 8 with a foot injury. He has now been ruled out for the season. Source.
Emoni Narawa - Came off at halftime in rd 8 with a foot injury. Now ruld out for the season. Source.
Crusaders
James White - Suffered a shoulder injury and will be out for the rest of the season. Source.
Tamaiti Williams - Ruled out after rd 7 for the year with an infection of a disc in his back (Discitis). He will make a full recovery, but won’t play until at least the first international window. Source.
Aki Tuivailala - Concussed in rd 4. Return date TBC. Source.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin - Out with a neck injury. Return date was the GF at the earliest. Source.
Maloni Kunawave - Listed as having a hamstring injury before rd 15. Aiming to return for the GF but they didn’t make it. Source.
Seb Calder - Came off the field with a calf injury. Return date is TBC. Source.
Cullen Grace - “Busted” his patella in August for Canterbury. Was aiming to return for the SF but didn’t play. Source.
George Bell - Listed as having a calf injury before rd 15. Originally aiming to return for the QF-SF. Now changed to TBC return date. Source.
Toby Bell - Listed as having a season-ending shoulder injury as of rd 15. Source.
Mitch Drummond - Listed as having a season-ending shoulder injury as of rd 15. Source.
Scott Barrett - Returned from his sabbatical, but now carrying a back injury. Officially ruled out for the season. Source.
Will Tucker - Ruled out pregame rd 10 with a concussion. As of rd 16 he is out with a shoulder injury for the season. Source.
Xavier Saifoloi - Rd 16 he is listed as having a shoulder injury, Out for the season. Source.
Will Jordan - Restrained his calf. He is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks, so they have ruled him out for the rest of the season. Source.
Dallas McLeod - Picked up a groin injury in the QF and missed the semi-final. Source.
Leicester Fainga’anuku - Confirmed to have a syndesmosis injury and a fractured fibula from the Semi-Final. They have said he doesn’t require surgery and will return in 10-12 weeks, but the nature of these injuries is that they won’t know for certain yet if the syndesmosis will be stable enough until he progresses further with his rehab. Source.
Highlanders
Dylan Pledger - 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 - 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.
Josh Tengblad - Suffered an ACL injury in rd 5. Out for the season. Source.
Reesjan Pasitoa - Sustained an ankle fracture in rd 10, requiring surgery and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2026 Super Rugby Season. Source.
Josh Bartlett - As of rd 12 he has a foot injury. Gone for the season. Source.
Caleb Tangitau - Ruptured his left Achilles in rd 14, requiring 6-9 months to return. Source.
Finn Hurley - Suffered a hamstring injury in his first game of the season in rd 10. Expected back for finals but they didn’t make it. Source.
Nikora Broughton - Looks to have injured his left knee. Aiming to return in the QF but they didn’t make finals. Source.
Jonah Lowe - Came off injured in rd 15. No word as to why yet.
Daniel Lienert-Brown - Given a red card for a high tackle on Flanders in rd 15. Banned for 4 weeks. Yet to be determined if he can drop it by one week through tackle school given he did it last year. Source.
Hurricanes
Caleb Delany - Came off in the Semi-Final with a concussion. Source.
Drew Wild - Was expected back, but still listed as having a shoulder injury for the grand final.
Harry Godfrey - Expected to miss the 2026 Super Rugby season due to an ACL injury. Source.
Brett Cameron - Stretchered off with a right knee injury. They haven’t told us what the injury is, but it was confirmed during rd 3 that he is having surgery and is out for the season. Source.
Riley Higgins - Has had a shoulder injury since before rd 12. Confirmed he is out for the season. Source.
PACIFIKA
Drua
Ponipate Loganimasi - Commentary said that Loganimasi came off with a dislocated wrist in rd 7. He has now been ruled out for the season with an arm injury, so we believe this is the reason. Source.
Epeli Momo - Ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury before rd 8. Source.
Haereiti Hetet - Now listed as having a shoulder injury, commentary confirmed he would be out for the season during rd 14. Source.
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.
Aisea Nawai - Listed as out as of rd 2 with a leg injury. Source.
Isikeli Basiyalo - Came off in rd 10 straight after a dash down the sideline. He had his hammy taped up so we are assuming it is a hamstring muscle tear. He jogged off comfortably, but limped when walking, which fits this diagnosis as well.
Motikiai Murray - Now listed as having an arm injury before rd 12. Source.
Emosi Tuqiri - Picked up a severe-looking leg (we think) injury in rd 14.
Mesake Vocevoce - Pulled pregame rd 15, with a back injury. Source.
Joseva Tamani - Injured rd 16, no more details available.
Temo Mayanavanua - Pulled pregame rd 16, no more details available.
Moana
Tupou Afungia - Recovered from a neck injury, but suffered a concussion in rd 3. Now listed as a neck injury again in rd 6. Source.
Lolani Faleiva - Has a shoulder injury. No return date announced. Source.
Julian Savea - Came off in rd 6 with a nasty-looking shoulder injury. We suspect he has dislocated it, so he will be out for some time. Source.
Tito Tuipulotu - Missing rd 7 with a thumb injury. Source.
Monu Moli - Has a new foot injury as of rd 9. No further details yet. Source.
Ngani Laumape - Has a new knee injury as of rd 9. No further details yet. Source.
Tevita Ofa - Has a new finger injury as of rd 9. No further details yet. Source.
Niko Jones - Limped off the field in rd 9 with a calf injury. Source.
Melani Matavao - Hurt his left knee shooting out of the line in defence in rd 10. We haven’t heard any more info yet. Source.
Lalomilo Lalomilo - Came off with what looked like quite a bad calf injury. Initially, he reacted like he had ruptured his Achilles, but he was eventually able to slowly walk off the pitch. Source.
Jonathan Taumateine - Pulled pregame rd 12, with a calf injury. Source.
Jimmy Tupou - Listed as having a back injury in rd 16. Source.
Israel Leota - Helped off the field with what looked like a very sore ankle or leg injury in rd 16.
Faletoi Peni - Shown a red card for a high tackle in rd 16, but also because it was his second yellow card. He will face the judiciary.
Paula Latu - The reserve prop was helped back off the field at 66 min with an injury in rd 16.
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Written by your local rugby nerd, Harrison Dale.