Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 3-4

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 3:

Tom Lynagh (Reds) - Came off for an HIA at halftime and failed. Apparently has recovered well enough to play rd 4. Source.
Josh Flook (Reds) - Limped off with a hamstring injury. Source.
Seru Uru (Reds) - Has an injury, we aren’t sure what it is and they haven’t said when he is due back. Source.
Lalakai Foketi (Waratahs) - Picked up a groin injury in rd 3. Source.

Folau Fakatava (Highlanders) - Was ruled out on Thursday with a hamstring injury and isn’t expected back until rd 6. Source.
Finn Hurley (Highlanders) - Pulled pregame with a quadriceps injury. Source.
Cameron Millar (Highlanders) - Suffered a sickening head clash with Danny Toala in the second half and will go through concussion protocols. Source.
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) - Left the field with a right knee injury about hyperextending it late. Apparently just bone bruising. Was a chance to play rd 4 so we think he will play rd 5. Source.
Josh Lord (Chiefs) - Limped off 5 minutes into rd 3 with a knee injury. Apparently the injury isn’t too serious and he should only miss a few weeks. Source. Conversely he has been listed as 4-6 weeks with a round 9 return, so we aren’t sure what is correct. Source.
Raymond Tuputupu (Hurricanes) - Came off early with a concussion. Will be out of at least rd 4. A standard progression through the return to play protocol would have him back in rd 5. Source.
Kade Banks (Hurricanes) - Came off early with a concussion. Will be out of at least rd 4. A standard progression through the return to play protocol would have him back in rd 5. Source.
Peter Lakai (Hurricanes) - Came off for an HIA from the Hoskins high tackle. Only had 5 min left so we didn’t hear if he passed.
Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) - Given a red card for his high shot on Lakai. No doubt he will get 3 weeks down to 2 for completing tackle school. Personally I think he hits hard enough already, imagine if someone gives him an education.
Dalton Papali’i (Blues) - Suffered a concussion in rd 3. Source.
James Mullan (Blues) - Suffered a concussion in rd 3. Source.
Reon Paul (Blues) - Listed as injured as of rd 4. Source.
Tito Tuipulotu (Moana) - Picked up a knee injury in rd 3. Source.

Likely Back for Round 4:

Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Reds) - Missed the UK tour with a knee injury. Was pushing to return in rd 3. Source.
Sio Tomkinson (Force) - Concussed in rd 2 so going through his return to play protocols, which you’d think would have him back this week. Source.
Jeremy Williams (Force) - Concussed in rd 2 so going through his return to play protocols, which you’d think would have him back this week. Source.
Kane Koteka (Force) - Out with a rib injury for the first 3 weeks. Fit as of rd 4. Source.
Tiaan Tauakipulu (Force) - Limped off late in rd 1 a rib injury. Named fit as of rd 4. Source.
Tom Osbourne (Force) - Signed as injury cover for Harry Hoopert. Now declaired fit to play. Source.
Feao Fotuaika (Brumbies) - Suffered an ankle injury in rd 1. Expected back round 4 now. Source.
Noah Lolesio (Brumbies) - Suffered a concussion in rd 1. Was expected back round 3, now pushed to round 4 or 5. Source.
David Feliuai (Brumbies) - Has a finger injury that is expected to keep him out until round 4. Source.
Tom Hooper (Brumbies) - Failed an HIA in rd 2. Going through concussion protocols.
Rory Scott (Brumbies) - Pulled pregame rd 2, no word on why.
Selestino Ravutaumada (Drua) - Had a shoulder reconstruction in the off season. Expected back for round 4. Source.
Frank Lomani (Drua) - Missed rd 3 due to an ankle sprain, apparently not too serious. Source.
Vilive Miramira (Drua) - Suffered an ankle injury in rd 1, considered a short term injury. Source.
Joey Walton (Waratahs) - Returns after tearing his groin in rd 1. Source.

Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) - Came off with a broken nose in rd 2. Was expected to play rd 4 but got pushed back a week. Source.
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders) - Failed a concussion off the back of his mouth guard being triggered in rd 2. Going through protocols without issues would have him back this week. Source.
Fletcher Anderson (Crusaders) - Cleared of his heel injury but not selected. Source.
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) - Tore his hamstring in preseason training in late Jan. Confirmed now that he will return after their round 3 bye. Source.
Rivez Reihana (Crusaders) - Out with an ankle injury. Was hoping to be back after the bye, but has been pushed back to rd 5. Source.
Braydon Ennor (Crusaders) - Had off-season wrist surgery. Cleared to return but wasn’t picked in the 23. Source.
Lalomilo Lalomilo (Moana) - Came off with a concussion in rd 2 after a hit from Hunter Paisami, so we expect he is likely to be back.
Pone Fa'amausili (Moana) - Listed as injured before round 1 and not for rd 3. We assume that means he has recovered but wasn’t picked. Source.
Lotu Inisi (Moana) - Listed as fit for rd 4 after recovering from a hamstring injury, but not selected. Source.
Alamanda Motuga (Moana) - Listed as fit for rd 4 after recovering from a shoulder injury, but not selected. Source.
Ofa Tauatevalu (Moana) - Listed as fit for rd 4 after recovering from a lower leg injury, but not selected. Source.
Semisi Paea (Moana) - Ofa Tauatevalu (Moana) - Listed as fit for rd 4 after recovering from an ankle injury, but not selected. Source.
Callum Harkin (Hurricanes) - Had a head injury in rd 2 and will be back rd 4, but wasn’t selected. Source.
Ruben Love (Hurricanes) - Underwent Ankle Surgery around the 18th of December. Returned to start rd 4. Source.
Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs) - Played in Japan to start the year. Back off the bench this week. Source.

Returned in Round 3:

Liam Wright (Reds) - Recovered from his shoulder operation to play off the bench.
Etonia Waqa (Drua) - Returned from 9 months out with a knee injury via the bench.
Mesulame Dolokoto (Drua) - Pulled from the bench a day before rd 2. In the media it sounded tactical and rightly he returned in rd 3.
Vaiolini Ekuasi (Force) - We were tipped that he missed last week for the birth of his child. Returned off the bench.

Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes) - Picked up a concussion in rd 1 and returned this week.
Samisoni Taukei'aho (Chiefs) - Recovered from his Achilles rupture to play off the bench in rd 3.

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.
Tuaina Taii Tualima - Pulled from the bench pregame rd 2 with Dengue fever from his Fiji trip., his return date is listed as TBC. 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.
Jock Campbell - Suffered a wrist/ forearm injury right at the end of Rd 2. Consulting a specialist but won’t be available for round 3, and is likely to miss rounds 4 and 5. Source.
Hunter Paisami - Faced the judiciary for a high shot in rd 2. Banned for 3 weeks with the chance to drop a week if he completes tackle school. 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.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - Out of rd 3 with a toe injury to his plantar plate. They aren’t 100% sure of his return date, but are guessing he will miss rounds 4 and 5. 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.
Matt Proctor - Out with a shoulder injury. No clarity on a return date. Source.
Divad Palu - Out as of rd 2 with a shoulder injury. Source.
Atu Moli - Pulled late pregame rd 2. No clarity yet on why.

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.
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 being cleared. Source.
Laughlan McWhannell - Suffered a cheek injury in rd 2. Out for at least rd 4. Now listed as a TBC return but all Blues players are. 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 - 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.

Crusaders
Seb Calder - Suffered an AC joint injury (shoulder) against the Blues in the first 20 minutes of their trial. His return has been pushed back to rd 5. Source.
Johnny McNicholl - Out with a hamstring tear. Aiming to return after the first 4-6 weeks. Source.
Quinten Strange - Out with a pec and hamstring tear, Aiming for rd 5. 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.
Dom Gardiner - Out with a hamstring injury. Aiming for rd 5 but originally listed as 5-7. Source.
Jamie Hannah - Out as he recovers from shoulder surgery for the first 5-7 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 upgraded his return to “short-term” injury. Source.
Taha Kemara - Came off the field in rd 2 with a minor sternum injury. 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 10. 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.
Josh Whaanga - Has a back injury. will be back in rd 5. Source.
Daniel Lienert-Brown - Got a red card for his clean-out on Funaki in rd 2. He was banned for 3 weeks with the chance to drop a week if he completes tackle school. So should be back rd 6 (he has a bye in rd 4). Source.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Missed the final trial with a shoulder injury. Played for the Bravehearts in rd 2 and named as available for rd 3. Source.

Hurricanes
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 listed as rd 5-7. Source.
Billy Proctor - Has an Achilles injury that kept him out of the first 4 weeks. He is training with the team so it isn’t a tendon tear, which means he has a tendinopathy (overload pathology). On the 25th of Feb they said he would be back soon. 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 an injury. Was struggling behind the play before that but we aren’t sure what he did.
Iosefo Masi - Missed rd 3 due to an ankle sprain, apparently not too serious. Source.

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. 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.
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.