Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 7-8

7 weeks have absolutely flown by in Super Rugby Pacific, and with it, the injuries keep coming in! We have all the latest Casualty Ward news! 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 7:

Max Jorgensen (Waratahs) - Came off with a syndesmosis sprain. Has had his operation earlier in the week. They are quoting 6-8 weeks return, there is a good chance he will be more like three months in our opinion. Source.
Lawson Creighton (Waratahs) - Failed an HIA but actually was off the field for stitches. Passed his post game testing so is available for rd 8. Source.
Harrison Goddard (Brumbies) - Came off with what looked like a shoulder injury.
Hunter Paisami (Reds) - Pulled pre-game. Returning in rd 8. Source.
Ryan Coxon (Force) - Came off with a rib injury. Source.
Ilaisa Droasese (Drua) - Out as of rd 8 with a wrist injury. Source.

Zach Gallagher (Hurricanes) - Pulled pregame with a hamstring injury. Expected back in rd 11. Source.
Lalomilo Lalomilo (Moana) - Pulled from the game because he was sick. Back in rd 8.
Miracle Faiilagi (Moana) - Has a hamstring injury as of rd 8. Source.
Pepesana Patafilo (Moana) - Out of rd 8 with a concussion. Source.
Tevita Ofa (Hamstring) - Out of rd 8 with a hamstring injury. Source.
David Havili (Crusaders) - Pulled pre-game with an Achilles tendon niggle. Expected back in rd 9-10. Source.

Likely Back for Round 8:

Fraser McReight (Reds) - Suffered an AC joint injury diving for his try in rd 5. Expected back in rd 8. Source.
Jock Campbell (Reds) - Suffered a wrist/ forearm injury right at the end of Rd 2. Expected back in rd 8. Source.
Matt Faessler (Reds) - Came off after feeling something high in his leg in rd 5. So we expect it is a hamstring or quad tear. Expected back in rd 8. Source.
Selestino Ravutaumada (Drua) - Failed his HIA in rd 5. We suspect he will be back in rd 8 after the bye. Source.
Papillon Sevele (Force) - No longer listed as injured after recovering from his knee injury. Source.
Triston Reilly (Waratahs) - Back after missing rd 7 with a shoulder injury.
Hugh Sinclair (Waratahs) - Back after apparently being injured for rd 7.

Jonah Lowe (Highlanders) - Out with a ACL injury. Expected back rd 8-9. Source.
Folau Fakatava (Highlanders) - Was ruled out on Thursday before rd 3 with a hamstring injury. Latest news is he is aiming for rds 8-9. Source.
Cameron Millar (Highlanders) - Suffered a sickening head clash with Danny Toala in rd 3. Now aiming to return for rd 7 or 8. Source.
Riley Higgins (Hurricanes) - Apparently broke his hand in two places days before rd 1. Had surgery on Friday 14th Feb and is expected to return after the rd 7 bye. Source.
Daniel Sinkinson (Hurricanes) - Has a hamstring injury. Won’t be back until round 8. Source.
Lucas Cashmore (Hurricanes) - No longer listed as injured after recovering from his MCL injury. Source.
Beauden Barrett (Blues) - Fractured his right hand in rd 4. They are hoping he is back this week. Source.

Returned in Round 7:

David Feliuai (Brumbies) - Returned from his concussion to play in the 12 jersey.
Tuaina Taii Tualima (Brumbies) - Recovered from Dengue fever from his Fiji trip to take his spot on the bench.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Waratahs) - Returned from his rd 3 plantar plate (toe) injury.
Lalakai Foketi (Waratahs) - Returned from his groin injury via the bench.
Darby Lancaster (Waratahs) - Played on the wing for the Tahs coming back from injury.
Josh Nasser (Reds) - Came off the bench after missing rd 6.
Dylan Pietsch (Force) - Returned after missing rd 6 with a knee injury.

Ngatungane Punivai (Hurricanes) - Returned from his rd 5 concussion.
Jona Nareki (Highlanders) - Back after injuring his ankle in rd 5.
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders) - Recovered from the quad injury he sustained before rd 5 to start for the Crusaders.
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) - Back on the bench after being pulled late in rd 6.
Solomon Alaimalo (Moana) - Returned after missing rd 6 with a shoulder injury.
Ardie Savea (Moana) - Returned after tweaking his hammy in rd 5.

Ongoing Injury List:

AUSTRALIA

Brumbies
Ben O’Donnell - Out with a hamstring injury as of 12th Feb, has had to have an operation. Return date is TBC but considered a long term injury. Source.
Tevita Alatini - Out with an ACL injury as of 12th Feb. Return date is TBC but considered a long term injury. Source.
Harry Vella - Out with an ACL injury as of 12th Feb. Return date is TBC but considered a long term injury. Source.
Charlie Cale - Came off with back spasms in rd 5. He is now listed as a “long-term” injury, with his return date TBC. Source.
Lachlan Lonergan - Was knocked out making a tackle in rd 6, will go through return to play protocols. Aiming to play inr d 9 after their bye.
Kadin Pritchard - Concussion. Aiming to play inr d 9 after their bye.

Reds
Matt Gibbon - Listed as injured for rd 2. Source.
Isaac Henry - Listed as injured for rd 2. As of rd 8 they said he isn’t far away. Source.
Will McCulloch - Listed as injured for rd 2. Source.
Josh Flook- Limped off with a hamstring injury in rd 3. As of rd 8 they said he would still be out for a couple more weeks. Source.
Liam Wright - In Rd 4 he irritated the shoulder he had operated on late last year. As of rd 8 they are saying he will be another 2-8 weeks. Source.
Frankie Goldsbrough - Listed as injured as of rd 6. No other info yet. Source.

Waratahs
Fergus Lee-Warner - Injured his foot in Japan over three months ago and won’t be available to start the season. We aren’t sure how long he is out for. Source.
Angelo Smith - We have heard that he hasn’t been at Waratahs training which would rule him out, but we aren’t completely sure if this is accurate.
Lucas Ripley - Out with a shoulder injury as of round 1. Source.
Jake Gordon - Came off with an MCL injury in rd 4. Expected back in rd 9. Source.
David Porecki - Pulled pregame rd 6 with another calf injury. Apparently they are hoping he returns in rd 8-9.
Mahe Vailanu - Confirmed he broke his forearm in rd 6. Source.

Western Force
Kurtley Beale - Ruptured his Achilles on the 29th of June last year playing club footy for Randwick. He has been given a contract with the Force while he finishes rehab, which normally takes 7-9 months. A conservative return would have him playing around the beginning of April. Source.
Bayley Kuenzle - August 2024 it was said he was set to miss almost a year through a serious knee injury (we assume an ACL rupture). Even a 9-month return would have him back around April. Source.
Matt Proctor - Out with a shoulder injury. No clarity on a return date. Source.
Divad Palu - Pulled with a new shoulder injury shortly after reentering the frame in rd 5. No details are available about what he has done. Source.

NEW ZEALAND
Blues
PJ Sheck - Currently out with a shoulder injury. Source.
Zarn Sullivan - Currently out with a foot injury. Source.
Taufa Funaki - Came off with a shoulder injury in rd 2. Looked like a dislocated shoulder to us. If we are right it means he will be out for a minimum of six weeks, a maximum of the full season and an operation.
Adrian Choat - Came off with a knee injury in rd 2.
Ben Ake - Still suffering from a shoulder injury despite having previously been cleared. Source.
Reon Paul - Out with a shoulder injury as of rd 4. Source.
Ricky Riccitelli - Missing rd 5 and 6 with a chest injury. All we know is that after thame they said “it doesn’t look good”. Source.
AJ Lam - Came off with a leg injury in rd 5. No word on a return date yet. Source.
Patrick Tuipulotu - Pulled before rd 6 after suffering an injury and had to be carted off the field. We aren’t sure what it was. Source.
Kurt Eklund - Pulled pregame rd 6 with an injury. We aren’t sure what it was.

Chiefs
Wallace Sititi - Is set to miss a major part of the Super Rugby campaign after suffering a knee injury in the Autumn Series, with fears he could be out for the entire season. He had an operation on his meniscus on the 17th of January. Source.
Liam Coombes Fabling - Suffered a knee injury. Out for 4-6 weeks as of rd 2 (aiming for rd 8). Source.
Fiti Sa - Has a long-term shoulder injury as of rd 2. Source.
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi - Has a shoulder injury. Listed as a short term injury as of rd 2. Source.
Kaleb Trask - As of rd 3 it is a Hamstring injury. Aiming to return in 4-6 weeks (earliest return rd 8). Source.
Etene Nanai-Seturo - Suffered a hamstring tear in rd 1, considered a long term injury. Source.
Josh Lord - Suffered a knee injuryin rd 3. Before rd 5 they said he would be out for 4-6 weeks. Source.
Anton Lienert-Brown -Pulled pregame rd 5 with a leg injury. Only expected to be a short term injury. Source.
Tupou Vaa’i - Pulled pregame rd 6. We aren’t sure why.

Crusaders
Johnny McNicholl - Out with a hamstring tear. As of rd 8 his return has been pushed back another 2-3 weeks. Source.
Dom Gardiner - Out with a hamstring injury. Originally aiming for rd 5, but now they are saying TBC. Source.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin - Injured his MCL injury in his knee which he sustained in the last trial on Feb 6th. Was aiming to play round 5, but instead they pushed it back 4 weeks. Source.
Braydon Ennor - Tore his hamstring in training leading in to rd 6, no set return date yet. Source.
Kyle Preston - Suffered a rib injury in rd 6. Will be back in rd 9 or 10. Source.

Highlanders
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens - Suffers fractured neck in Ranfurly Shield win in early October which required surgery. Source. They are targeting a return in round 9-10. Source.
Oliver Haig - Out with a foot injury. Expected back rd 9. Source.
Nikora Broughton - Injured his ribs in rd 6. Aiming to return in rd 9-10. Source.
Finn Hurley - Again listed as injured before rd 7 with a quadriceps injury. Return listed as TBC as of rd 8. Source.
Hugh Renton - Out with a groin injury. Due back rd 9-10. Source.

Hurricanes
Tjay Clarke - Out with a shoulder injury and targetting a rd 11 return. Source.
Devan Flanders - Out with a suspected broken leg from training (they called it an ankle injury which makes me worry it is a fracture dislocation that will keep him out for a long time). Returned brought forward to rd 12. Source.
Billy Proctor - Has an Achilles injury that kept him out of the first 4 weeks. Sounds like a tendinopathy or tenosynovitis (overload pathology). March 13th they gave an update (before rd 5). In a boot the previous week, was starting to load late rd 6 and in some new meds. They are hoping he plays rd 7 or 8. Source.
Siale Lauaki - Suffered a Rib injury in rd 4. No return date set yet, but not listed as injured in rd 8. Source.
Harry Godfrey - Has a lower leg injury. Aiming to return in rd 12. Source.

PASIFIKA TEAMS

Fijian Drua
Epeli Momo - Out with a knee injury before rd 1, considered a long-term injury. Source.
Peni Ravai - Came off late in rd 2 with a back injury. Not listed as injured but hasn’t been seen since. Source.
Motikiai Murray - Red carded for his high tackle on Goddard in rd 5, and banned for 3 weeks. Is not eligible for tackle school. Source.
Meli Derenalagi - His knee collapsed after trying to step off his left leg in rd 6. Nothing has been confirmed, but I would be quite surprised if he hadn’t just done his ACL, which would rule him out for the year.
Kitione Salawa - Only lasted 30 minutes in rd 6. There is no more detail yet on the injury.

Moana Pasifika
Julian Savea - Out as of rd 3 with a knee injury. Source.
Sione Havili Talitui - Out as of rd 3 with an ankle injury. Source
Fine Inisi - Listed as injured before round 1 with a hamstring injury. Not listed as injured but hasn;t play since. Source.
Danny Toala - Came off after having his legs chopped in a tackle and hurting his knee. See the video here.
James Lay - Picked up an elbow injury in rd 5. Source.
Lotu Inisi - We were told he was back training but as of rd 6 he has been listed as having a hamstring injury again. So we assume he aggravated it during training. Source.
Kyren Taumoefolau - Out as of rd 7 with a shoulder injury. Source.
Losi Filipo - Out as of rd 7 with a shoulder injury. Source.
Michael Curry - Out as of rd 7 with a shoulder injury. Source.
Samiuela Moli - Out as of rd 7 with a hamstring injury. Source.
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa - Out as of rd 7 with a quad injury. Source.

Gone for the season:

Harry Johnson-Holmes (Force) - Recovered from his Achilles rupture. Then tore his ACL warming up to play the trial against the Brumbies. Won’t play the entire season. Source.
Harry Hoopert (Force) - Is recovering from an ACL injury and won’t play any Super Rugby in 2025. Source.

Neria Fomai (Moana) - Will miss the entire 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season recovering from an ACL reconstruction. Source.
Tom Sanders (Highlanders) - Unavailable for the 2025 season due to injury. Source.
Josh Timu (Highlanders) - Unavailable for the 2025 season due to injury. Source.
Brett Cameron (Hurricanes) - He is recovering from an ACL injury suffered in the recent NPC season, he is expected to miss the full Super Rugby season. Source.
Finlay Brewis (Crusaders) - One of two props who suffered a shoulder injury against the Blues in the first 20 minutes of their trial. Needs surgery, so he will be out for the season. Source.
George Bell (Crusaders) - Injured his big toe in their trial on 6th Feb. Will require surgery to his plantar plate and is expected to be out for the season. Will be out for 16-20 weeks. Source.
Sam Darry (Blues) - Will miss the Blues‘ entire Super Rugby Pacific season due to a shoulder injury sustained at the end of January. He will need shoulder surgery and will be out for 5 months. Source.
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues) - Pulled pregame rd 5 with a neck injury. As of round 8 he is said to be out for the seaosn. Source.
Rameka Poihipi (Chiefs) - Scans have confirmed a serious enough knee injury in rd 2 that he will miss the remainder of the season. So we assume it is in ACL tear. Source.

Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.

Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.