With the temporary suspension of Super Rugby due to the Coronavirus this edition of the the Casualty Ward will continue to be updated. We are your one stop shop to find all the injury news in one place! We endevour to list all known information, while also offering our own insights as a Physiotherapist and Podiatrist.

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Returning from injury (Rd 7):

Whetu Douglas (Crusaders) – Made his come back from 2 broken fingers via the bench.
Sio Tomkinson (Highlanders) – Was mean’t to have made his come back from his 3 week ban but the game was cancelled.
Josh Dickson (Highlanders) – Meant to be back from his shoulder injury but the game was cancelled.
Atu Moli (Chiefs) – Came back aftering missed last week through illness.
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Blues) – Made his comeback off the bench to start his season.

Rob Simmons (Waratahs) – Returned from an ankle injury to score the games first try.
Mark Nawaqanitawase (Waratahs) – Recovered from his back injury to score for the Waratahs.
James O’Connor (Reds) – Back from his ankle sprain to play at flyhalf.

Louis van der Westhuizen (Bulls) – Recovered from an ankle injury to be named in the 27 man squad but didn’t make match day.
Felipe Ezcurra (Jaguares) – Named to start at halfback after missing the last 2 weeks but the game was cancelled.
Agustin Creevy (Jaguares) – Back from a bicep injury but the game was cancelled.

New Injuries (Rd 7):

Tom Christie (Crusaders) – Came off with a hamstring injury.
Karl Tu’inukuafe (Blues) – Pulled late in the week with a calf injury at training. Source.

Jock Campbell (Reds) – Came off early with an injury.
Harry Wilson (Reds) – Came off with a suspected MCL (knee ligament) injury. Source.
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) – Came off with a hamstring injury just after half time. Source.
Karmichael Hunt (Waratahs) – Came off with a calf issue. Source.
Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies) – Trudged from the field in the 29th minute with a broken arm. Source.
Murray Douglas (Brumbies) – Came off with concussion. Source.
Solomone Kata (Brumbies) – Came off with a leg injury . Source.

Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls) – Came off with concussion.
Josh Strauss (Bulls) – Came off with concussion.
Muller Uys (Bulls) – Came off late with what we suspect was an injury.
Louis Schreuder (Sharks) – Came off after a heavy fall on a stretcher from the openning kick off. Diagnosed as concussion.
Ruben van Heerden (Sharks) – Limped off for his substitution.
Jean-Luc du Plessis (Stormers) – Came off after 19 minutes following a heavy tackle from Andre the Giant. Could have been a rib injury.
Herschel Jantjies (Stormers) – Broke his leg in the encounter at Kings Park and looks set to be out for three to four months. Source.
Steven Kitshoff  (Stormers) – Suffered a torn chest muscle, he could be sidelined for up to four months which would mean a likely operation. Source.
Jamie Roberts (Stormers) –  Needs to return to Britain to renew his visa and would then not be able to travel back to South Africa due to the coronavirus pandemic. Source.

Likely back for this week (Rd ?):

This section will stay blank until we know of a return date for the competition.

Ongoing Injury List:

NEW ZEALAND
Highlanders
Thomas Umaga-Jensen – Had off season shoulder surgery and is out until April. Source.
Connor Garden-Bachop – Had an operation on his back and will miss 5-6 months meaning he won’t be back until June at the earliest. Source.
Scott Gregory – Not injured, but is due to leave for the NZ 7s around March.
Tevita Nabura – Still getting over an operation on his lower back after he suffered an injury at training just before Christmas and is not expected back until the end of March. Source.
Pari Pari Parkinson – Still battling an ankle issue and will miss the South Africa and Argentina tour. Back rd 8 at the earliest. Source.
Rob Thompson – Ruled out of rd 6 and 7 with a groin strain. Source.
Jona Nareki – Fractured his ribs in rd 6, expected to be out for a month. Source.
Ayden Johnstone – Came off with concussion in rd 6. Flown home and missed rd 7 for “a rest”. Source.

Chiefs
Etene Nanai-Seturo – Currently with the NZ 7’s, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
Nepo Laulala – His rd 1 MCL tear will rule him out for 6 weeks. Will return to training after rd 5. Source.
Angus Ta’avou – Originally injured in rd 1, they thought it was a 6 week injury but it is actually a quad tear instead. He now has to consult a surgeon to see if he needs an operation but he could be another 8-12 weeks (after rd 4) without surgery. Source.
Luke Jacobson – Has a “neural” hamstring injury from rd 4. Which basically means it is an irritation of the nerve not an actual tear of his hamstring. Normally only costs players one week on average but the Chiefs say he will at least miss rd 6, maybe another week or two past that. Source.
Tyler Ardron – Ruled out of round 7 through infection. Source.

Hurricanes
Ardie Savea – Knee surgery announced December 1st, looking at an early return, at the earliest round 7. Source.
Salesi Rayasi – Currently with the NZ 7’s, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
Jonah Lowe – Injured his shoulder in the Crusaders trial, the same one from 2019. No info about an expected return date. Source.
Kane Le’aupepe – Has had hip surgery in mid december to repair a torn labrum and remove a CAM impingement. He will be out for 5-6 months. It is worth noting that these injuries vary massively with return to sport time, it could really be 4-9 months! Source.
Reed Prinsep – Pulled pregame rd 3 not sure why. Source.
Fraser Armstrong – Took a knock in rd 3 but not sure what he has done. Source.
Jackson Garden-Bachop – Injured his hand in round 4. Expected to be out for a few weeks with a hand injury. Source.
Tyrel Lomax – Banned for three weeks starting round 7 for trying to take another players head off. Source.
Xavier Numia – Recovering from a head knock and won’t play round 7. Source.

Crusaders
Sam Whitelock – Apparently he could be back from his sabbatical around May.
Ethan Blackadder – Shoulder dislocation at the end of the Mitre 10 cup. Shoulder surgery means he won’t return before May at the earliest. Source.
Will Jordan – Suffered a groin strain in rd 3 and hasn’t recovered in time to play round 6. Source.
Quinten Strange – Back from a broken hand via the bench.
David Havili – Had a foreign object removed from his stomach before rd 6 and is expected to spend some time on the sidelines. Source.
Andrew Makalio – Sidelined for rd 7 with a calf injury. Source.
Billy Harmon – Picked up a MCL strain against the Hurricanes in preseason but back training and was expected to play round 6. Source.

Blues
Beauden Barrett – The star flyhalf/ fullback is due to return from sabattical for rd 11. Source.
Caleb Clarke – Currently with the NZ 7’s, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
James Tucker – Waiting on scan results for his knee. Source.
Tom Robinson – Rested rd 7 with a minor head knock. Source.
Finlay Christie – Was aiming to return from a neck injury for rd 6, no update yet. Source.
Alex Hodgman – Tore his calf in rd 1, not sure how severe it was but it would be between 2 and 6 weeks. Source.
Josh Goodhue – Left the field with an ankle injury rd 3. Was aiming for rd 6 but did even play rd 7. Source.

AUSTRALIA

Brumbies
Folau Faingaa – Ruled out since round 4 with a toe injury, no word on the severity but surely a chance this week.
Toni Pulu – Came off with a shoulder injury in rd 6. Yet to find out the severity of a shoulder injury he suffered against the Sunwolves, with a first set of scans not producing conclusive results. Source.

Reds
Michael Wood – It sounds like he has cut something significant in his foot in the preason and won’t be back until late March/ April.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Sprained his ankle rd 1 and will now consult a surgeon meaning it is likely a high grade injury. Confirmed to miss the 2 week RSA tour but will likely be 6 weeks or more. Source.
Moses Sorovi – Seen limping around on crutches during rd 4. Still injured for rd 7. Source.
Hunter Paisami – Injured his knee in rd 6 and will miss at least a month. Source.
Izack Rodda – Missed rd 6 and 7 with an ankle injury, apparently he was also just being rested. Source.

Rebels
James Tuttle – Ruptured his Achilles twice! First in October 2018, and again five months into his rehab. He is now aiming to return for round 1 but thinks he will likely be back a few weeks later. Source.
Reece Hodge – Tore his groin in round 3, aiming to return afte the rd 7 bye. Source.
Campbell Magnay – Ruled out before kick off in rd 4, still no word on what he had done when he was ruled out of rd 5.
Luke Jones – Sidelined with a back injury since rd 2, was rumoured to be back for round 5 then wasn’t. So who the hell knows from here!
Richard Hardwick – Came off at half time rd 6 with what we thought was a blood bin, but did not return.

Waratahs
Jake Gordon – Tore his hamstring in round 5. Will miss round 7 so it sounds like he could play the following week. Source.
Ned Hanigan – Still out with concussion since the start of the season as of rd 7. Source.
Tom Robertson – Missed rd 6 with a back injury. Source.

SOUTH AFRICA
Sharks

Stormers
Ramone Samuels – Suffered a bad leg break in 2019. Coach Dobson says his injury is potentially career threatening because his nerve will not regenerate in his ankle. Source.
Daniël du Plessis – Will miss the first few weeks of Super Rugby. Also missed the Currie Cup. Not sure what his injury is. Source.
Siya Kolisi – Rd 1 grade 3 MCL (inside of the knee) tear. His specialist said he will miss a minimum of 6-8 weeks, it could be much worse if it doesn’t heal well. Source.
Pieter-Steph du Toit – Had surgery on Sunday the 1st of March to treat heavy bruising of his thigh. Initial reports say he will be out for 2 months. Source.

Bulls
Dylan Sage – Fractured his ankle and will be on the sideline for 3 months following surgery. Meaning he will be aiming for roughly a 5th of May return. Source.
Johan Grobbelaar – Expected to be out for five weeks after undergoing ankle surgery before round 5. Source.
Simiphiwe Matanzima (Bulls) – Was originally targeting a round 6 return from an AC joint injury, but now not on tour for rds 7-10. Source.
Burger Odendaal – Was named at 12 coming back from his ankle injury in rd 7 but didn’t end up playing.

Lions
Malcolm Marx – In the middle of a sabbatical in Japan. Due to return to Super Rugby in June. Source.
Gianni Lombard – Tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus trying step someone in round 10 (April). Will be back by the end of March or early April after taking it slow with his rehab.
Rhyno Herbst – Got injured in pre season, will be out for some time. No more details yet. Source.
Reinhard Nothnagel – Has a minor concussion, missed Super hero Sunday. Source.
Darrien Landsberg – Suffering with concussion, no more details but you’d think the two weeks until round 1 should have him as a relatively safe bet to play. Source.
Tim Agaba – Withdrew from round 1 with a neck strain, now also on light duties after that game. Source.
Jaco Kriel – Won’t feature in Lions the team before the end of March or April, as he recovers from an ankle injury. Source.
Francke Horn – Grade 2 ankle sprain from Super Hero Sunday. This will keep him out for about 6 weeks on average. Meaning he should return after the Australasian tour around rd 9. Source.
Vincent Tshituka – Injured his ankle in rd 5, having surgery to repair the ruptured ligaments in his ankle. I expect him to miss at least three months. Source.
Roelof Smit – Sustained a quad injury at training around rd 5. Source.
Wandisile Simelane – Suffered a rd 6 Grade I MCL (knee ligament) tear in his right knee. Missed rd 7. Source.

ARGENTINA/JAPAN
Jaguares
Tomas Cubelli – Injured his adductor muscle (groin). Expected to miss three weeks putting his return in round 8. Source. Thanks Paul Tait
Javier Ortega Desio – Flown home mid week before round 4 after taking a knock in training. Not sure of the severity but he should at least miss the round 5 and 6 tour.
Bautista Delguy – Tore his left adductor (groin) in rd 4, was apparently back in the mix for selection in rd 7 but wasn’t named. Source.

Sunwolves
Jordan Jackson-Hope – Came off in rd 4 with a right knee injury. Out for 6 weeks. Thanks Rich Freeman!!

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Gone for the season:

Baden Wardlaw (Blues) – Forced to retire before the season due to a chronic neck fusion. Source.
Ray Niuia (Blues) – Has a knee injury that will cost him his season. Source.
Tanielu Tele’a (Blues) – Had a shoulder injury after round 6 and is out for the season. Source.
Ricky Jackson (Highlanders) – The hooker will miss the entire SR campaign with an ankle injury and operation. Nathan Vella brought in to replace him. Source.
James Lentjes (Highlanders) – Fracture dislocated his ankle in rd 5, will have surgery and is gone for the season. Expected recovery is 6-9 months. Source.
Nathan Harris (Chiefs) – Announced on the 15th of January that he has had a shoulder operation to repair his rotator cuff. Out for at least six months and all of Super Rugby. Source.

Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin (Brumbies) – ruled out of Super Rugby season after rupturing his Achilles on the 25th of January. Source.
Jordan Petaia (Reds) – Dislocated his shoulder after round 2, has had shoulder surgery so will miss the season.

Werner Kok (Sharks) – Won’t join the Sharks until August 2020. Source.
Warren Whiteley (Lions) – Has been ruled out of Super Rugby 2020 due to an ongoing knee injury. He is apparently still on a lot of pain. This sounds a lot like an arthritic or chronically swollen knee. Source.
Cyle Brink (Lions) – Ruptured Achilles tendon, will be gone for around 6 months. Done for the season. Source.
Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers) – Ruptured his hamstring in rd 1 and had surgery after rd 2. Gone for the season. Source.
Matías Orlando (Jaguares) – Had shoulder surgery before rd 2 and will be out for roughly 5 months (so we assume it was a shoulder reconstruction). Should be done for the year. Source.

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

Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.