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.
Miles Amatosero (Waratahs) - Given a four-week ban (that could be cut to two) for punching Angus Scott-Young and fracturing his eye socket. Returns for rd 1. Source.
Bayley Kuenzle (Force) - Missed the first trial with a concussion. back playing this week. Source.
Darcy Swain (Force) - Missed the first trial with a calf injury, back on the bench this week. Source.
Semisi Paea (Moana) - Suspended with Tonga and not available for the last trial. Allowed to return in rd 1. Source.
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.
Will Jordan (Crusaders) - Was expected to miss the first three rounds as part of his All Blacks resting protocol, but instead has been named in rd 1. 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.
Tyrone Thompson (Chiefs) - Suffered a calf injury in the preseason. Recovered quicker than we first thought to take a place on the bench in rd 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.
Miles Amatosero (Waratahs) - Given a four-week ban (that could be cut to two) for punching Angus Scott-Young and fracturing his eye socket. Returns for rd 1. Source.
Bayley Kuenzle (Force) - Missed the first trial with a concussion. back playing this week. Source.
Darcy Swain (Force) - Missed the first trial with a calf injury, back on the bench this week. Source.
Semisi Paea (Moana) - Suspended with Tonga and not available for the last trial. Allowed to return in rd 1. Source.
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.
Will Jordan (Crusaders) - Was expected to miss the first three rounds as part of his All Blacks resting protocol, but instead has been named in rd 1. 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.
Tyrone Thompson (Chiefs) - Suffered a calf injury in the preseason. Recovered quicker than we first thought to take a place on the bench in rd 1.
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.
Nick Frost - Rested for rd 1. 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.
Filipo Daugunu - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Massimo De Lutiis - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Carter Gordon - Has a minor Leg injury, expected back in rd 2 or 3. Source.
Tom Lynagh - Hasn’t played since the Lions series as he details with concussion and hamstring issues. On Inside Line there was some chat about a calf injruy as well. Aiming to return in a “couple of weeks” as of rd 1. Source.
Will McCulloch - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Heremaia Murray - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Josh Nasser - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Kalani Thomas - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Ben Volavola - Listed as injured in rd 1. Source.
Waratahs
Angus Scott-Young - Fractured his eye socket in an altercation with Miles Amatosero. We’d have thought he was out for another couple of weeks with this one, but he is now listed as being out with a calf injury. Source.
Austin Durbidge - Currently out as of rd 1 with a forearm injury. Source.
Eamon Doyle - Currently out as of rd 1 with an ankle injury. Source.
Western Force
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. Considered a short-term injury as of rd 1. Source.
Doug Philipson - Missed the preseason with a knee injury, and still listed as a long-term injury in rd 1. Source.
Feao Fotuaika - Missed the first trial with a foot injury. Considered a medium-term injury as of rd 1. 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 long term injury in rd 1. Source.
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 2. Source.
Cam Christie - Hobbled off with a knee ligament injury in the Jan 30th trial. Now confirmed he is out for the season. Source.
Corey Evans - Missing rd 1 with an ankle injury. No confirmation on a return date. Source.
Jordan Lay - Missing rd 1 with a concussion. Not confirmated but he is likely back for rd 2 if he has an uneventful return. Source.
Malachi Wrampling - Missing rd 1 with a concussion. Not confirmated but he is likely back for rd 2 if he has an uneventful return. Source.
Chiefs
Brodie McAlister - Suffered a broken hand at training in the last week of January. Set to sideline him for the first three rounds (Back rd 4). Source.
Taine Kolose - The young hooker is nursing a knee niggle and will miss the start of the season. Source.
Lalakai Foketi - Suffered a knee injury in the trial. Aiming to return round 3. Source.
Sione Ahio - Currently out with an ankle injury. No return date set yet. Source.
Isaac Hutchinson - Recovering from a knee injury. Aiming to return in round 8. Source.
Damian McKenzie - Missing rd 1 due to the birth of first child. Source.
Crusaders
Scott Barrett - Still finalising his return date from the sabbatical, but his intention is to return sometime in May. 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. Expected back rd 6-8. Source.
Macca Springer - Out with a Quad injury. Back for rd 2-3. Source.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin - Out with a hip injury. Back for rd 2-3. Source.
Johnny McNicholl - Out with a hamstring injury. Aiming to return in rd 4. Source.
Liam Jack - Out with a hamstring injury. Aiming to return in rd 6-8. Source.
Cooper Roberts - Out with a Fibula injury. Aiming to return in rd 6-8. Source.
Cullen Grace - Currently has a knee injury. No set return date 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 - 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.
Saula Ma’u - Carrying a shoulder injury. Expected back in rd 8-9. Source.
Xavier Tito-Harris - Expected back from a hamstring injury in rd 3. Source.
Stanley Solomon - Expected back from a shoulder injury in rd 3. Source.
Andrew Knewstubb - Expected back from a quad muscle injury in rd 3. 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 with a foot injury as of the last trial on the 7th Feb. Source.
Augustine Pulu - Currently unavailable to due a calf injury. No return date announced. Source.
Jimmy Tupou - Currently unavailable to due an elbow injury. No return date announced. Source.
Ola Tauelangi - Currently unavailable with a back injury. No return date announced. Source.
Tupou Afungia - Currently unavailable with a neck injury. No return date announced. Source.
Paula Latu - Currently unavailable with a knee injury. No return date announced. Source.
Tevita Latu - Currently unavailable with a knee injury. No return date announced. Source.
Gone for the season:
This will be completed during the season.
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Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.