Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 2-3

The Super Rugby Pacific round 2 is done and dusted. As always, the Casualty Ward is here to deliver all your injury 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 2:

Jock Campbell (Reds) - Suffered a wrist/ forearm injury right at the end of the game. Consulting a specialist but won’t be available for round 3, and is likely to miss rounds 4 and 5. Source.
Hunter Paisami (Reds) - Faced the judiciary for a high shot that wasn’t pinged at the time. Banned for 3 weeks with the chance to drop a week if he completes tackle school. Source.
Mesulame Dolokoto (Drua) - Pulled from the bench a day before the game. In the media it sounds tactical, but there is no confirmation if it was for an injury. Source.
Peni Ravai (Drua) - Came off in the 70th minute with an injury. Was struggling behind the play before that but we aren’t sure what he did.
Frank Lomani (Drua) - Will miss rd 3 due to an ankle sprain, apparently not too serious. Source.
Iosefo Masi (Drua) - Will miss rd 3 due to an ankle sprain, apparently not too serious. Source.
Rory Scott (Brumbies) - Pulled pregame, no word on why.
Tom Hooper (Brumbies) - Failed an HIA. Will miss next week going through concussion protocols.
Tuaina Taii Tualima (Brumbies) - Pulled from the bench pregame with illness, with a return date as TBC. Source.
Rhys Van Nek (Brumbies) - Came off for an HIA late. No word to whether or not he passes.
Joey Walton (Waratahs) - Set for a stint on the sidelines after hurting his groin in rd 1. Source.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Waratahs) - Out of rd 3 with a toe injury. Source.
Atu Moli (Force) - Pulled late pregame. No clarity yet on why.
Sio Tomkinson (Force) - Concussed in rd 2 so going through his return to play protocols. Source.
Jeremy Williams (Force) - Concussed in rd 2 so going through his return to play protocols. Source.

Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) - Came off with a broken nose. Missing rd 3, no word yet to if it will cost him any more time. 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.
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders) - Failed a concussion off the back of his mouth guard being triggered. Source.
Taha Kemara (Crusaders) - Came off the field in the on Friday with a minor sternum injury. Source.
Sione Havili Talitui (Moana) - Pulled pregame. No word on the injury yet.
Lalomilo Lalomilo (Moana) - Came off with a concussion after a hit from Hunter Paisami.
Caleb Delany (Hurricanes) - Came off after 26 minutes. Was seen struggling around the field for the few minutes before it. But it is not clear what the injury was.
Brayden Iose (Hurricanes) - Came off with a big head cut.
Callum Harkin (Hurricanes) - Has a head injury (concussion?) and will be back rd 4. Source.
Saula Ma’u (Highlanders) - Failed a concussion and came off back via the bench in rd 3.
Daniel Lienert-Brown (Highlanders) - Got a red card for his clean-out on Funaki. He was banned for 3 weeks with the chance to drop a week if he completes tackle school. Source.
Taufa Funaki (Blues) - Came off with a shoulder injury in rd 2. Looked like a dislocated shoulder to us.
Adrian Choat (Blues) - Came off with a knee injury in rd 2.
Laughlan McWhannell (Blues) - Out of at least rd 4 with a cheek injury. Source.
Lalomilo Lalomilo (Moana) - Got a concussion in rd 2. Source.

Likely Back for Round 3:

Liam Wright (Reds) - Recovering from his shoulder operation. Was hoping to play rd 2 but they chose not to risk him with any doubts over his fitness. Still hoping now to play rd 3, but it may be for the development side first. Source.
Alex Hodgman (Reds) - No longer listed as injured for rd 3. Source.
Jude Gibbs (Reds) - No longer listed as injured for rd 3. Source.
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Reds) - Missed the UK tour with a knee injury. Pushing to return in rd 3. Source.
Vaiolini Ekuasi (Force) - We have been tipped that he missed last week for the birth of his child and is expected back this week.
Etonia Waqa (Drua) - Returning from 9 months out with a knee injury via the bench. Source.

Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes) - Picked up a concussion in rd 1. Expected back rd 3. Source.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Highlanders) - Missed the final trial with a shoulder injury. Played for the Bravehearts in rd 2 and will be available for rd 3. Source.

Returned in Round 2:

Filipo Daugunu (Reds) - Returned from his preseason concussion and immediately looked at home with the Reds.
Charlie Cale (Brumbies) - Returned from a big shoulder operation he had after the July internationals. Didn’t miss a beat on his return.
Taniela Rakura (Drua) - Retruned from injury on the left wing.

Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) - Returned from a knee injury that had cost the end-of-season tour last year.

Ongoing Injury List:

AUSTRALIA

Brumbies
Rob Valetini - “Tweaked” his hamstring in January during training. Is expected to miss the first month of Super Rugby with no strict return date set yet. This timeline suggests he has at least got a moderate tear, which is a 4-6 week injury. They have not set a return date. Source.
Ben O’Donnell - Out with a hamstring injury as of 12th Feb. 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.
Feao Fotuaika - Suffered an ankle injury in rd 1. Expected back round 4 now. Source.
Noah Lolesio - Suffered a concussion in rd 1. Was expected back round 3, now pushed to round 4 or 5. Source.
David Feliuai - Has a finger injury that is expected to keep him out until round 4. Source.

Reds
Matt Gibbon - Listed as injured for rd 2. Source.
Isaac Henry - Listed as injured for rd 2. Source.
Will McCulloch - Listed as injured for rd 2. Source.
Mason Gordon - Listed as injured for rd 2. Source.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - Will miss at least the first six weeks as he recovers from a small crack on his fibula. Source.

Waratahs
Fergus Lee-Warner - Got injured in Japan over two 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 to 3. 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.
Papillon Sevele - Out with a knee injury. We aren’t sure how long he will be out for. 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.
Kane Koteka - Returns for the Brumbies trial. Now out with a rib injury for at least the first 3 weeks. Source.
Matt Proctor - Out with a shoulder injury. No clarity on a return date. Source.
Henry Robertson - Out with a rib injury. No clarity on a return date. Source.
Tiaan Tauakipulu - Limped off late in rd 1 a rib injury. No clarity yet on if it was serious. Source.
Divad Palu - Out as of rd 2 with a shoulder injury. Source.

NEW ZEALAND
Blues
Kurt Eklund - Currently out with a groin injury. Source.
PJ Sheck - Currently out with a shoulder injury. Source.
Zarn Sullivan - Currently out with a foot injury. Source.
Stephen Perofeta - Currently out with a calf injury. Source.

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.
Shaun Stevenson - Is playing in Japan to start the year. Originally we heard he would be back around wk 3-4, but now they are saying mid season. Source.
Liam Coombes Fabling - Suffered a knee injury. Out for 4-6 weeks as of rd 2. Source.
Fiti Sa - Has a long term injury as of rd 2 and 3. Source.
Samisoni Taukei'aho - Back in full training from the start of Feb, originally targeting a round 3 return from his Achilles rupture, now pushed back to rds 4-6. 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. Source.
Etene Nanai-Seturo - Suffered a hamstring tear in rd 1, considered a long term injury. Source.

Crusaders
Seb Calder - Suffered an AC joint injury (shoulder) against the Blues in the first 20 minutes of their trial. Will miss the first 3-4 weeks, hopefully back after the bye. Source. Source.
Johnny McNicholl - Out with a hamstring tear. Aiming to return after the first 4-6 weeks. Source.
Rivez Reihana - Out with an ankle injury. Will miss the first 3 weeks, hopefully back after the bye (rd 4). Source.
Quinten Strange - Out with a pec and hamstring tear, Aiming for rd 5. Source.
Codie Taylor - Tore his hamstring in preseason training in late Jan. Confirmed now that he will return after their round 3 bye. Source.
Braydon Ennor - Had off-season wrist surgery. They have upgraded him from an unknown return date up to a likely rd 4 return. Source.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin - Injured his MCL injury in his knee which he sustained in the last trial on Feb 6th. Will miss 5-6 weeks, so he will return around round 5. Source.
Fletcher Anderson - Out with a heel injury for the first 2-3 weeks. Source.
Dom Gardiner - Out with a hamstring injury for the first 5-7 weeks. Source.
Jamie Hannah - Out as he recovers from shoulder surgery for the first 5 weeks. Source.
Aki Tuivailala - Out with Finger surgery. Expected back after 5 weeks. Source.
Noah Hotham - Suffered an ankle injury early in rd 1 and had to come off. The mechanism made it look like a syndesmosis injury. They have listed his return date as unclear at this stage. Source.

Highlanders
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens - Suffers fractured neck in Ranfurly Shield win in early October which required surgery. Source. Out for at least 6 months but they haven’t ruled him out for the season yet, they are now saying maybe round 9-10. Source.
Oliver Haig - Out with a foot injury. Expected back rd 10. Source.
Jonah Lowe - Out with a ACL injury. Expected back rd 7-8. Source.
TK Howden - Out with a hamstring injury. Expected back rd 5. Source.
Jona Nareki - Out with an ankle injury. Expected back rd 4. Source.
Josh Whaanga - Has a back injury. will be back in rd 4. Source.

Hurricanes
Ruben Love - Underwent Ankle Surgery around the 18th of December. Expected recovery time is 3-4 months, Return has been pushed back from rd 5 to 7. Source. Source.
Lucas Cashmore - Has a significant MCL injury that will sideline the Blues recruit until rd 7 (better than the initial expectation of rd 10). Source.
Tjay Clarke - Out with a shoulder injury and targetting a rd 9 return. Source.
Tyrel Lomax - Has a stress fracture and won’t play the final trials. Aiming to play round 5. Source.
Zach Gallagher - Has an Achilles injury. Return is listed as TBC. We don’t know if it is an overload issue or a tear. Source.
Daniel Sinkinson - Has a hamstring injury. Won’t be back until round 8. 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). Now targetting rd 14. Source.
Riley Higgins - Apparently broke his hand in two places days before rd 1. Had surgery on Friday 14th Feb and is expected to return in rd 7. Source.
Asafo Aumua - Still recovering from foot surgery. Originally they said returning rd 3, now changed to TBC. Source.
Billy Proctor - Has an Achilles injury that kept him out of the first 3 weeks. He is training with the team so it isn’t a tendon tear, which means he has a tendinopathy (overload pathology). No confirmation that he will be back but it wouldn’t surprise us. Source.

PASIFIKA TEAMS

Fijian Drua
Epeli Momo - Out with a knee injury before rd 1, considered a long-term injury. Source.
Selestino Ravutaumada - Had a shoulder reconstruction in the off season. Should be back for round 4. Source.
Vilive Miramira - Suffered an ankle injury in rd 1, considered a short term injury. Source.

Moana Pasifika
Lotu Inisi - Listed as injured before round 1 and 2 with a hamstring injury. Source.
Fine Inisi - Listed as injured before round 1 and 2 with a hamstring injury. Source.
Pone Fa'amausili - Listed as injured before round 1 and not listed this week. We assume that means he has recovered but wasn’t picked. Source.
Alamanda Motuga - Out as of rd 3 with a shoulder injury. Source.
Julian Savea - Out as of rd 3 with a knee injury. Source.
Ofa Tauatevalu - Out as of rd 3 with a lower leg injury. Source.
Semisi Paea - Out as of rd 3 with an ankle injury. Source.
Sione Havili Talitui - Out as of rd 3 with an ankle 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.

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

Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.