Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Pre-season 2023
The Super Rugby Pacific season is warming up, which means the return of the Casualty Ward! 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
Josh Kemeny (Rebels) - Missed all of last year recovering from an ACL reconstruction but has made his comeback in the preseason. Source. Carter Gordon (Rebels) - Limped off in the 60th minute of the last trial. Source. Sounds like he should be right to play rd 1. Source.
Angus Bell (Waratahs) - Injured his plantar (underside) ligament in his big toe which required surgery. Expected to play in the trial matches and be fit for round 1. Source.
Lachlan Swinton (Waratahs) - Suffered nerve damage in his shoulder in round 1 last year which ended his year. Had to have a nerve transfer operation to regain muscle function and is expected to start contact in January. Aiming to play in the trials and round 1. Source.
Lalakai Foketi (Waratahs) - Fractured his Tibia in the Autumn internationals but returned in the trial against the Reds on Feb 11th.
Izaia Perese (Waratahs) - On the road back from his patella tendon rupture. Considered 50-50 for round 1 as he struggles with a quad muscle injury. Source.
Jesse Mogg (Brumbies) - Returned from injury mid-preseason trial after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year.
Izack Rodda (Force) - Revealed on the Pick & Drive podcast that he was on load management running in January. Aiming to be into full loads in a week then ready to play by the last trial or game 1 of Super Rugby.
James O'Connor (Reds) - On the comeback trail from his ankle surgery. Apprently still in doubt for rd 1. Source.
Suliasi Vunivalu (Reds) - Had a hammy week in preseason and missed a trial but named to return on Feb 11th . Source.
Ryan Smith (Reds) - Fell awkwardly on his shoulder. Sounds like he is touch and go for rd 1. Source.
Luke Jones (Reds) - Struggling with a neck injury and may not be fit for round 1. Source.
Pari Pari Parkinson (Highlanders) - Has made his comeback from a Nov 2021 "multi-ligament knee injury" through the NPC. Apparently he is chomping at the bit to play Super Rugby.
Jona Nareki (Highlanders) - Ruptured his ACL in 2021. Another player who successfully made his comeback through the NPC.
Folau Fakatava (Highlanders) - Reinjured his ACL last year and decided to try to recover without surgery to give himself a chance of playing in the RWC. He can run straight lines, the next step is to introduce agility, but so far he is on track for round 1. Source. Must be very likely to return in the preason because his injury cover Tahuriorangi has moved back to the Chiefs. Source.
Mitch Hunt (Highlanders) - Suffered a concussion in May last year and hasn't played since. Apparently back into some contact work in January so hopefully he is fit for round 1. Source.
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders) - Dislocated his left shoulder in the quarter-finals last year and required an operation. Is fit and ready for the trials and round 1. Source.
Mitch Dunshea (Crusaders) - Had his MCL (knee) repaired through surgery on the 29th of March and missed the season. Will be bursting at the seams for round 1. Source.
Joe Moody (Crusaders) - Ruptured his ACL in rd 9 at the end of April. Is expected to be fit for the start of preseason. Source.
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) - Had surgery in August to clean up something in the knee he had reconstructed a year earlier. Expected to be fit for round 1. Source.
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) - Came off with a stinger after landing awkwardly on his shoulder in the final trial. Apparently more just a precaution so he should be fine. Source.
Harry Plummer (Blues) - Dislocated his shoulder in March 2022 which required an operation and ruled him out for the year. Played for Auckland for the NPC so will be fit to start the year.
Anton Segner (Blues) - Broke his leg in rd 15 which finished his year. Made his comeback through the NPC so he should be up for selection for round 1.
Zarn Sullivan (Blues) - Fractured his Scapula (shoulder blade) in round 2 of the NPC in late August. Should be fit and ready for preseason. Source.
Beauden Barrett (Blues) - missed the last trial with illness so there is some doubt for him for rd 1. Source.
Tom Robinson (Blues) - missed the last trial with illness so there is some doubt for him for rd 1. Source.
Isi Tu’ungafasi (Moana) - Made his return inthe Feb 11 trial after missing the entire 2022 season due to neck surgery.
Ongoing Injury List:
AUSTRALIA
Western Force
Izack Rodda - Broke his foot again in the final trial against the Drua. His return time hasn't been set yet but it wouldn't surprise us if he misses at least the first six weeks. Source.
Brumbies
Tom Hooper - Suffered a potentially serious foot injury on the Feb 11 trial. Source. Was seen in a cast and not weight-bearing at the final trial so we think he will be out for at least 3 months.
Reds
Taniela Tupou - Ruptured his Achilles on November 20 and won't play in Super rugby 2023. Source.
Harry Hoopert - Ruptured his ACL playing for Australia A on October 8th. Will miss the 2023 season. Source.
Spencer Jeans - Broke his leg around the start of January and is targeting a round three return. Thanks to Nic Darveniza for the tip!
Angus Blyth - Has an high ankle (syndesmosis) injury. Expected to miss the first month of Super Rugby. Source.
Wilson Blyth - Suffering with a knee injury, expecting to miss the first couple of rounds of Super Rugby. Source.
Conor Vest - Suffering a thumb injury, expecting to miss the first couple of rounds of Super Rugby. Source.
Jock Campbell - Expected to miss the opening round, as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered against Scotland during last year’s Spring Tour. Source.
Josh Nasser - Injured and won't start the season. Source.
Rebels
Matt Philip - Ruptured his ACL at training on October 19th meaning he will miss almost the entire season. Source.
Rob Leota - Ruptured his Achilles against the All Blacks in September 15th. Expected to miss the bulk of Super Rugby. Source.
Andrew Kellaway - Has started to run early in Feb in his comeback from his foot fracture. He is aiming to play before his original target of round 6. Source.
Ray Nu’u - Helped off with a right knee injury on Feb 11. No word yet on the severity. Source.
Trevor Hosea - Expected to miss round 1 but isn't expected to miss too much more than that. Source.
Andrew Kellaway - Expected to miss round 1 with injury. Source.
Waratahs
Kurtley Beale - Has been stood down until his legal battle is finished. The next court date is March 22nd so he won't be seen before then. Source.
Harry Johnson-Holmes - Ruptured his Achilles in Wallabies camp before the July test. Aiming to return by rd 3-4. Source.
Joey Walton - Had an operation to clean out a disc in his lower back. As of the end of January, he was 6 weeks away which would mean he is aiming for a round 2-3 return. Source.
Will Harrison - Had a big multi-ligament knee injury during Super Round early in 2022 and had surgery on his patella and MCL. Aiming to in round 3. Source.
Ned Hanigan - Came off with a knee injury in the Feb 11th trial when Dane Zander fell awkardly on his knee. Looking like an MCL type injury. Aiming to return round 2-4. Source.
Tiaan Tauakipulu - Has a knee injury from the preseason. Aiming to be back in round 2 or 3. Source.
Dylan Pietsch - Went down in the trial against the Brumbies on the 4th of Feb with a quad tear. Expected back rd 2-3. Source.
NEW ZEALAND
The All Blacks are on leave until early February. Although not confirmed, this may delay their entry into the SR Pacific competition.
Highlanders
Fabian Holland - Dislocated his kneecap in the 2nd week of January. With an estimated 8 week recovery he is now in doubt for the start of the season (8 weeks would be a round 3 return). Source.
Luca Inch - Ruled out for the season. Source.
Chiefs
Reuben O'Neill - Missed 2022 through injury and has once again been ruled out for the year.
Angus Ta'avao - Out for the 2023 season after injuring his neck which required surgery in the NPC in October. Source.
Quinn Tupaea - Tore his ACL late in September. Probably won't be back until late June. Source.
Josh Lord - Tore his ACL on the 14th of June. That puts his return around mid march, but it could very a lot.
Xavier Roe - Opted to have shoulder surgery for a niggling injury. This will rule him out for the season. Source.
Atu Moli - Came off injured after 5 minutes in the Feb 18th trial with a shoulder injury. He was interviewed post game and said he was okay.
Hurricanes
TJ Perenara - Ruptured his Achilles on the 20th of November playing against England. Originally planning on an August return, he is well ahead of schedule and will try to return towards the end of Super Rugby around late April. Source. Our opinion is that this is far too early and at absolute best we might see him in early May.
Ruben Love - Has been battling a groin issue and is still a couple of weeks away at a minimum (won't be back until rd 3 at the earliest). Source.
Brett Cameron - Has a grade 2 calf tear and looks likely for round 3. Source.
Reed Prinsep - Limped off with an Achilles injury in the last trial. Source. Apparently not a full rupture. Source.
Justin Sangster - Dislocating his thumb in the final trial against the Crusaders. Source.
Crusaders
Oli Jager - Sustained a neck injury late in the NPC in 2022 which required surgery. As of the start of Feb he is back in the gym but won't start contact or scrummaging until cleared by the specialist. Source.
Will Jordan - Progressing his involvement in training with his migraine-related condition diagnosed late last year. Symptoms are not concussion related & he is working towards a return to play for the Crusaders, but the exact time-frame of this is uncertain. Source.
Sam Whitelock - Missing round 1 with a concussion. Expected back for round 2. Source.
Blues
Tanielu Tele'a - Ruptured ACL in May last year and missed the rest of the season. That puts round one about 9 months after the injury so without any updates he may be at risk of missing the start of the season. Source.
Sam Nock - Withdrew from the Feb 11 trial with a calf injury. Source.
Sam Darry - Came to Thursday 16th’s season launch wearing a knee brace. We don't have more details yet but we expect he must be at least 2-4 weeks away from playing if that is the case. Source.
PACIFIKA TEAMS
Fiji Drua
Simione Kuruvoli - Injured his shoulder in the Autumn internationals which required surgery, will miss almost the entire 2023 season. Source.
Alivereti Veitokani - Still hasn't been able to travel to Australia to have his knee reconstruction so is still at least 9 -12 months away from playing again.
Vinaya Habosi - Cut from the team immediately on February 7th due to a high-level breach of the club's code of conduct. Source.
Meli Derenalagi - Back, before rd 1 but didn't play. Source.
Vilive Miramira - Back, before rd 1 but didn't play. Source.
Meli Tuni - Back, before rd 1 but didn't play. Source.
Moana Pasifika
Sekope Kepu - Snapped his Achilles in September. Isn't expected back until sometime in March. Hoping to be back in rd 3. Source.
Tima Fainga’anuku - Missed the final trial with a concussion. Source.
Mike McKee - Missed the final trial with a shoulder injury. Source.
Alamanda Motuga - Missed the final trial with a shoulder injury. Source.
Niko Jones - Missed the final trial with a knee injury. Source.
Jonathan Taumateine - Missed the final trial with a Hamstring injury. Source.
Lotu Inisi - Missed the final trial with a ankle injury. Source.
Ray Niuia - Missed the final trial with a neck injury Source.
Henry Taefu - Missed the final trial because he was sick. Source.
Jack Lam - Missed the final trial with a ankle injury. Source.
Penitoa Finau - Missed the final trial with a foot injury. 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.