Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Pre-season 2025

The Super Rugby Pacific season is about to kick off, which of course means your favourite place to furiously scroll through lists and lists of your favourite player’s injury updates is back! 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.

If you like what you read please like, share and review us everywhere people talk about rugby, and check out our Draft Rugby podcast or show released each week. Tune in, rate, review and share us. You’ll find us across all platforms on the links below:

Draft Rugby is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribed

Returning for Round 1

Iosefo Masi (Drua) - Tore his hammy against LA. Apparently, a decent chance to return in rd 1. Source.
Jake Gordon (Waratahs) - Limped off early holding his back against the Brumbies. Expected to play round 1. Source.
Reesjan Pasitoa (Force) - Returns this week for the Brumbies trial from a shoulder injury. Source.
Atu Moli (Force)- Returns this week for the Brumbies trial from an off-season hip operation. Source.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Waratahs) - A late withdrawal from the Brumbies trial with a knee injury, the Tahs and Joseph himself said he will be right for round 1. Source.

Ongoing Injury List:

AUSTRALIA

Brumbies
Charlie Cale - Had a big shoulder operation after the July internationals. This included a latarjet procedure and both a rotator cuff and bicep tendonitis repair. He suffered the initial injury in rd 2 and played through to the mid year internationals before finally deciding he had to have surgery. He is starting full contact just before rd 1, targeting a round 3 return. Source.
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.
David Feliuai - Forced from the field in their final trial with a finger injury. Should be back round 3. 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.

Reds
Liam Wright - Recovering well from his shoulder operation. His conservative return date is round 2, but they are still hopeful he could return earlier. He was on the UK tour squad but didn’t play. Source.
Filipo Daugunu - Got a bad concussion in their trial on the 8th of Feb, a fortnight out from their first game (they have a bye in rd 1). However he was eventually able to walk off, suggesting his cognitive function and recovered quickly. World rugby says he can’t play for at least 12 days, which means he is still a good chance of playing in rd 2. Source.
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Missed the UK tour with a knee injury. Pushing to return in rd 3. 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.
Jack Barrett - Out with a leg injury as of round 1. Source.
Lucas Ripley - Out with a shoulder injury as of round 1. 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.
Harry Johnson-Holmes - 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 - Is recovering from an ACL injury and won’t play any Super Rugby in 2025. Source.
Kane Koteka - Returns for the Brumbies trial. Now out with a rib injury. 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.

NEW ZEALAND
Blues
Sam Darry -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.
Kurt Eklund - Currently out with a groin injury. Source.
James Mullan - Currently out with a concussion. Source.
PJ Sheck - Currently out with a shoulder injury. Source.
Hoskins Sotutu - Currently out with a knee injury. We assume it was the same one that cost him a place in the Northern Hemisphere All Black’s tour late last year. Source.
Zarn Sullivan - Currently out with a foot injury. Source.
Stephen Perofeta - Currently out with a calf injury. Source.
Ben Ake - Currently out with a shoulder 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.
Liam Coombes Fabling - Listed as injured before round 1. No further details out. Source.
Fiti Sa - Listed as injured before round 1. No further details out. Source.
Samisoni Taukei'aho - Back in full training from the start of Feb, he is targeting a round 3 return from his Achilles rupture last year. Source.
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi - Listed as injured before round 1. No further details out. Source.

Crusaders
Finlay Brewis - One of two props that suffered a shoulder injury against the Blues in the first 20 minutes of their trial. Needs surgery, so he will be out of for the season. Source.
Seb Calder - Suffered an AC joint injury (shoulder) against the Blues in the first 20 minutes of their trial. Will miss the first 3 weeks, hopefully back after the trial. Source.
Johnny McNicholl - Out with a hamstring tea. 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. Source.
Quinten Strange - Out with a pec and hamstring tear, Out for 4-6 weeks. Source.
Codie Taylor - Tore his hamstring in preseason training in late Jan. Will miss the first two to three weeks of Super Rugby, then return after their round 3 bye. Source.
Braydon Ennor - Had off-season wrist surgery, we thought he was aiming for a return in round 4 but now they are saying his return date is unclear. Source.
George Bell - Injured his big toe in their trial on 6th Feb. Return date is unclear as they decide the best management plan. Out gut says he probably has a turf toe injury, which as a front rower can be a big issue. Source.
Dallas McLeod - Suffered a pointer, which is essentially a bone bruise to the pelvis. These can take a few weeks to get better in the worst case scenario, so could cost him a couple of games if he is unlucky. They are saying he will be monitored in the lead up to round 1, so they must think he could play. 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 4-5. 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 4-6 weeks. Source.
Jamie Hannah - Out as he recovers from shoulder surgery for the first 4-6 weeks. Source.
Aki Tuivailala - Out with Finger surgery. Expected back after 4-6 weeks. 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.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Missed the final trial with a shoulder injury. Will be miss the first 2 weeks. Source.
Tom Sanders - unavailable for the 2025 season due to injury. Source.
Josh Timu - unavailable for the 2025 season due to injury. Source.
Oliver Haig - Out with a foot injury. Expected back rd 10. Source.
Jonah Lowe - Out with a ACL injury. Expected back rd 8. Source.
TK Howden - Out with a hamstring injury. Expected back rd 5. Source.
Jona Nareki - Out with an ankle injury. Expected back rd 6. 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 rd 6 or 7. Source. Source.
Brett Cameron - He is recovering from an ACL injury suffered in the recent NPC season, he is expected to miss the full Super Rugby season. 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 - Also out for several weeks to begin the season. Source.
Tyrel Lomax - Has a stress fracture and won’t play the final trials. Aiming to play round 6. Source.
Asafo Aumua - Still recovering from foot surgery so won’t play until round three. 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). Currently return date is listed as TBC. Source.

PASIFIKA TEAMS

Fijian Drua
Etonia Waqa - Out with a knee injury before rd 1, considered a short-term injury. Source.
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. Is targeting a round 4 return. Source.

Moana Pasifika
Neria Fomai - Will miss the entire 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season recovering from an ACL reconstruction. Source.
Lotu Inisi - Listed as injured before round 1. Source.
Pone Fa'amausili - Listed as injured before round 1. Source.

Gone for the season:

This will be completed during the season.

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

Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.