Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Pre-season 2026
All the Super Rugby injuries in one place
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.
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Returning for Round 1
Frankie Goldsbrough (Reds) -Sustained ligament damage to his elbow last year playing for the Reds U20s in March. Missed the rest of the Super Rugby Season but is fit again for the 2026 season.
Tom Lynagh (Reds) - Kiss says he was "very close" to being fit to play after a lay-off with concussion and hamstring injuries on the 31st of Jan. Source.
Blake Schoupp (Brumbies) - Ruptured his left Achilles in April. We would expect him back by rd 1. Source.
Rob Valetini (Brumbies) - Played in the final trial.
Ryan Lonergan (Brumbies) - Played in the final trial.
Ofa Tuʻungafasi (Blues) - Returned in the preseason trial on 30th Jan after recovering from neck surgery in March 2025 to remove bone spurs. Was a late call up and played 28 minutes. Source.
Stephen Perofeta (Blues) - Returned in the preseason trial on 30th Jan after recovering from chronic calf issues and a knee injury. Source.
Taha Kemara (Crusaders) - Returned from his ACL repair in the trial on 30th Jan.
Noah Hotham (Crusaders) - Returns in the last trial after fracturing his leg in September for the All Blacks. Source.
Mitch Dunshea (Highlanders) - Has been eased back into the preseason after carrying a few niggly injuries last year. Expected to be fit to start the season. Source.
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.
Eli Langi - Currently rehabbing an injury he picked up in Super Rugby U19s. 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.
Jarrah McLeod - Has been called into the Aus 7s side to cover Dietrich Roache for the weekend before Rd 1. It doesn’t sound like Roache’s injury is significant, but in our opinion, it is likely to cost him at least rd 1 availability. 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.
Harry Wilson - 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.
Waratahs
Miles Amatosero - Given a four-week ban (that could be cut to two) for punching Angus Scott-Young and fracturing his eye socket. He will miss the two trials and be ready for rd 1. Source.
Angus Scott-Young - Fractured his eye socket in an altercation with Miles Amatosero. They haven’t given a return date, but a six-week standard would have him back after the rd 3 bye. Source.
Western Force
Bayley Kuenzle - Missed the first trial with a concussion. We believe he is expected back for the 2nd trial. Source.
Nic Dolly - Had knee surgery just before the Force V Lions game on the 28th of June last year. Apparently had a “plate removed” in the first week of December and was now back running. We suspect this means he had an osteotomy, an operation that is used for arthritis in one compartment of the knee. He is documenting his rehab on his Instagram HERE. Source.
Doug Philipson - Missed the first trial with a knee injury. Source.
Feao Fotuaika - Missed the first trial with a foot injury. Source.
Darcy Swain - Missed the first trial with a calf injury. Source.
Alex Hartford - Left the field in the trial against the Reds on Jan 23rd, holding his arm or shoulder in his jersey.
NEW ZEALAND
All Black’s players will only be returning for rd 1 at the earliest. Some will miss up to three weeks.
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.
Kurt Eklund - Recovering from an injury through the preseason. Expected to be fit for round 1.
Beauden Barrett - Expected to miss the first three rounds as part of his All Blacks resting protocol. Source.
Marcel Renata - Was a late scratching from the trial on the 30th of January with a calf injury. Source.
Payton Spencer - Was knocked out in the trial against the Hurricanes on Jan 30th. Should be right for rd 1. Source.
Cam Christie - Hobble off with a knee ligament injury in the Jan 30th trial. No more details yet. Source.
Chiefs
Brodie McAlister - Suffered a broken hand at training in the last week of January. Set to sideline him for the first two to three rounds. Source.
Tyrone Thompson - Suffered a calf injury, will be unavailable to start the year. We aren’t sure how long he is expected to be out. Source.
Taine Kolose - The young hooker is nursing a knee niggle and will miss the start of the season. Source.
Crusaders
Scott Barrett - Still finalising his return date from the sabbatical, but his intention is to return sometime in May. Source.
Will Jordan - Expected to miss the first three rounds as part of his All Blacks resting protocol. Source.
Dallas McLeod - Came off with a concussion in the trial on the 30th of Jan. An uneventful recovery would have him back for rd 1. Source.
Maloni Kunawave - Came off with a hamstring injury in the trial on the 30th of Jan. We haven’t heard how bad it is yet. 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.
Finn Hurley - Has a “stress around his foot”, which sounds like a stress fracture. Expected to keep him out of action for six to eight weeks as of January 17th. Source and Source.
Hugh Renton - Had off-season surgery. Apparently not far from full fitness on 3rd of Feb, but was still building his loads. Clarke Dermody says he is “not far away” but will likely play a few games in the development comp before playing Super. 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.
Fabian Holland - Injured his right shoulder while trying to pilfer during a ruck on the 6th of Feb. To us it looks like he has dislocated his shoulder. This would generally mean 6 weeks to return at best, an operation at worst. Source.
Hurricanes
Harry Godfrey - Expected to miss the 2026 Super Rugby season due to an ACL injury. Source.
Brad Shields - Departed the 30th Jan Trial against the blues with a suspected broken finger. Expected Back rd 2. Source.
Kini Naholo - Expected to return from his ACL Recon (in mid-May) by rd 3 or 4. Source.
Tyrel Lomax - Expected back from a thumb injury in rd 1 or 2. 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 or 5. Source.
Peter Lakai - Expected back from a calf injury in rd 1 or 2. Source.
Xavier Numia - Came off in the trial on the 7th of Feb shortly after taking a knock. It was a little unclear what happened, but maybe a left arm injury. Details are TBC.
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.
Moana Pasifika
Niko Jones - Off injured as of the last trial on the 7th Feb. Source.
Semisi Paea - Suspended with Tonga and not available for the last trial. We don’t know when he is due back. Source.
Gone for the season:
This will be completed during the season.
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Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.