Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 8-9

The regular season Casualty Ward will come out every week 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.

If you like what you read please like, share and review us everywhere people talk about rugby, and check out our Draft Rugby podcast or show released each week. Tune in, rate, review and share us. You’ll find us across all platforms on the links below:

New Injuries Round 8:

Tate McDermott (Reds) - Banned for 3 weeks after being given a red card for striking. Source.
Fraser McReight (Reds) - Banned for 3 weeks after being given a red card for a high tackle, can go through tackle school to reduce it to a week. Source.
Seru Uru (Reds) - Broke his thumb and had an operation. Will miss 4-6 weeks. Source.
Josh Flook (Reds) - Missing rd 9 with an AC joint injury, doesn’t sound like it is too severe because they were waiting to see how he went at training on Tuesday. Source.
David Feliuai (Rebels) - Came off after roughly 50 minutes after tacking a big shot.
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (Drua) - Given the week off to grieve a family member.Source.
Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs) - Was taken off in a medi-cab after suffering a suspected neck injury in the first half. Source.
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs) - Pulled pregame. We are not sure why.
Jonah Lowe (Highlanders) - Came off with a knee injury. Apparently still swollen on Monday so ruled out for this week. No clear diagnose has been expressed yet.

Likely Back for Round 9:

Connor Anderson (Reds) - Missing since the trials with an ankle injury, played club rugby in rd 7 so should be available if needed. Source.
Sef Fa’agase (Reds) - Has been banned for 4 weeks in rd 3. Back a week later than expected due to the depth at tighthead.
Santiago Medrano (Force) - Back after being pulled pregame rd 7 with a concussion.
Izack Rodda (Force) - Recovered from his quad tear to take his place on the bench
Michael Wells (Force) - Finally back on the bench after being missing since round 4 with a knee injury.
Isoa Nasilasila (Drua) - Came off with an ankle injury in rd 2 and has finally recovered.
Selestino Ravutaumada (Drua) - Back after recovering from a concussion in rd 7.
Blake Schoupp (Brumbies) - Came off with an AC joint injury in rd 4 and has recovered to take his place on the bench.

Tanielu Tele’a (Highlanders) - Red carded for a lazy high tackle in rd 5. Has been banned for 3 weeks so will return in rd 9-10 depending on if he can count the bye week. Source.
Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) - Sustained a minor groin injury during Captain’s Run before rd 5. Back on the bench after recovering for this week.
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues) - Back from a rd 6 concussion.
Sam Darry (Blues) - Came off with a serious MCL injury in rd 2. Back via the bench this week.
Bryce Heem (Blues) - Back from a rd 6 concussion.
Mark Tele’a (Blues) - Back after missing rd 7 due to a rib injury.

Returned in Round 8:

Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) - Back from a rd 6 concussion.
Jack Grant (Waratahs) - Back from a rd 6 concussion.
Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) - Recovered from a knee injury which cost him rds 6 and 7.
Lachie Anderson (Rebels) - Back from a rd 6 concussion.
Andrew Kellaway (Rebels) - Back from what we believe was a hip injury i from rd 6.
Josh Kemeny (Rebels) - returned after being pulled pregame rd 6.
Massimo De Lutiis (Reds) - Was available after recovering from a quad injury but wasn’t selected.
Alex Hodgman (Reds) - Returned from his rd 2 shoulder injury via the bench.

Owen Franks (Crusaders) - Returned from a 2 week ban.
Quinten Strange (Crusaders) - Back starting after limping off the field in rd 6.
Mitchell Drummond (Crusaders) - Back after being pulled pregame rd 6 without a known reason.
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders) - Played his first game of the year after finally recovering from a calf injury.
Brodie McAlister (Crusaders) - Returned via the bench after having dislocated his knee cap in the last trial.
Jona Nareki (Highlanders) - Returned from a rd 6 ankle injury.

Ongoing Injury List:

AUSTRALIA

Western Force
Harry Hoopert - Sustained a ligament injury in his right knee in training a fortnight ago (as of 20th Feb). Has since undergone surgery and will miss 3-4 months. Source.
Felix Kalapu - Underwent hamstring surgery last week (mid Feb) following a tear in training. Unavailable for the first half of Super Rugby. Source.
Campbell Parata - Recovering from a hamstring injury. Source.
Papillon Sevele - Undergoing rehab in Sydney in preseason for a right ACL injury sustained playing for his club. Source.
Angus Wagner - Unavailable for the first half of Super Rugby following meniscal surgery. Source.
Reesjan Pasitoa - Dislocated his elbow in training and had surgery to repair his ligaments on Monday 19th Feb. Will require a 10-12-week recovery period. Putting his return around early May. Source.
Jeremy Williams - Injured his calf in rd 5 and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks. Source.
Siosifa Amone - Dislocated his thumb in training and had surgery to repair his ligaments Feb 19th. 6-8-week return to play so rds 7-9. Source.
Harry Potter - Injured his syndesmosis in rd 6 and going for surgery. Will miss the rest of the season.

Brumbies
Allan Alaalatoa - Ruptured his Achilles end of July. Returns around 9 months post-op, now aiming to return late in April. Source.
Ben O'Donnell - Still a couple of weeks away from returning from a torn ACL before rd 5. Source.
Ed Kennedy - Missing the preseason with an infection. Racing the clock to be fit for round one. Source.
Len Ikitau - Came off with an injury to some ligaments in his knee in rd 4. Waiting on scan results but expected to miss roughly 4 weeks. Source.
Andy Muirhead - Injured his knee in rd 4, expected to be back rd 7-8 depending on which source you read. Source. Source.
Lachie Lonergan - Suffered a fractured dislocation to his ankle in rd 6. Our opinion is that he will likely need surgery and miss at least six months. Source.

Reds
Isaac Henry - Tore his patella tendon in rd 4 and will miss the rest of the season. Roughly a 9 month injury. Source.
James O’Connor - Suffered a hamstring tendon injury in preseason. As of rd 8 they say he is still a couple of weeks away. Source.

Rebels
Brad Wilkin - Has a grade three hamstring tear and had surgery on the 8th of March. Likely out for 10 weeks (to the season). Source.
Jake Strachan - Came off with a left shoulder injury in rd 6.
Rob Leota - Missed round 6 with a niggle so we assume he will be back.

Waratahs
Mesu Kunavula – Knee, will be out for the season. Source.
Tom Lambert - Had surgery the week of Feb 12th after damaging his meniscus in his knee in a rolling maul. Was originally said to be a 3 month return but he is now listed as out for the year. Source.
Dave Porecki - Picked up an Achilles injury in the preseason. Was aiming to be back by round 4 at the earliest but now it looks like he is targeting round 10. Source.
Archer Holz - Aiming to return from a shoulder injury in round 8 but wasn’t named. Source.
Mahe Vailanu - Tore his meniscus in rd 6 and will be out for the season.
Angus Bell - Came off with a recurrence of the toe injury in rd 7 that has already cost him two super rugby seasons. Won’t play again in Super Rugby this year. 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
Will Tucker - Injured and aiming to return in mid-April. Source.
Mitch Dunshea - Recovering from an Achilles Rupture and repair, aiming to return in April. Source.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Had an ACL rupture and repair mid-September. A 9-month recovery puts him back in mid-June so he is likely gone for the season. Source.
Connor McLeod - Injured his ACL around rd 2 and needs surgery. Will be out for 9-12 months. Source.
Blair Ryall - Tore his MCL after rd 2 out will be out for three months. Source.
Hugh Renton - Suffered a high ankle sprain in rd 3. Expected to be out for 6 weeks. Source.
Jermaine Ainsley - Injured his back at the end of rd 5. Source.
Fabian Holland - Came off with a concussion in rd 6 so could return rd 8. Source.
Josh Timu - Came off with a concussion in rd 6 so could return rd 8. Source.
Tom Sanders - Came off with a concussion in rd 6 so could return rd 8. Source.

Chiefs
Gideon Wrampling - Is a couple more weeks away (leading into rd 1) as he recovers from an elbow injury. Source.
Kaleb Trask - is still managing a long-term injury and has now been replaced in the official squad. Source.
Josh Lord - Had a minor ankle sprain in rd 6, played on for 20 minutes until finally being replaced. Worst case it looked like it might cost him a week or two.

Hurricanes
Jacob Devery - Suffered a knee injury in pre-season and didn’t fly to Australia. Source.
Cam Roigaard - Ruptured his patella tendon in rd 6. Has gone for surgery and will be out for 6-7 months. Source.

Crusaders
Braydon Ennor - Out for the season as he recovers from an ACL reconstruction in August. Apparently, he had an infection in his knee early post-op which has slowed his recovery. He is aiming to play in the back half of 2024. Source.
Codie Taylor - Will miss most of Super Rugby by taking a ‘non-playing sabbatical’. They are reporting that he is expected to return a few weeks before the playoffs, but coach Penney didn’t rule out an early return. Source.
Will Jordan - Will go for surgery just before the season kicks off to repair a shoulder that has been a lingering problem since last season. Will miss the entire Super Rugby season. Source.
Manasa Mataele - Pulled pregame rd 3 and then replaced in rd 4. No news on what he did or if he is still injured. Source.
Kershawl Sykes-Martin - Pulled pregame rd 3 and not in the squad for rd 4. No news on what he did or if he is still injured. Source.
Scott Barrett - Broken his finger before round 4, out for the next six weeks. Expected back in a few weeks as of rd 7. Source.
Tamaiti Williams - Has a “significant” tear in his hamstring in rd 1. Expected back in a few weeks as of rd 7. Source.
Leigh Halfpenny - Tore his pec muscle in the first trial on February 3rd forcing him from the field in their game with Munster. Was expected back in 3-4 months, still a few weeks as of rd 7. Source.
David Havili - Missed round 6 after pulling up with calf soreness so unless it was actually a tear he should be back rd 8. Source.
Fergus Burke - Suffered an Achilles Injury in October. Was aiming to play rd 8. Source.

Blues
Jordan Lay - Fractured his ankle in rd 3, had surgery and will be out for the season (3-4 months). Source.
Zarn Sullivan - Came off with a PCL injury in rd 5. Expected back rd 10 or 11. Source.
Stephen Perofeta - Was forced off the field with a bruised shoulder blade in rd 6. Expected back rd 10 or 11 after being out for 4-6 weeks. Source.
Finlay Christie - Missing rd 7 due to a groin injury. Expected back in rd 9 after the bye. Source.
Rob Rush - Missed rd 7 due to a calf injury. Source.
Cam Suafoa - Has only played twice this season as he goes through surgery and radiation for cancer. Source.
Kade Banks - Missed rd 7 due to a concussion. Source.

PACIFIKA TEAMS

Fiji Drua
Caleb Muntz - Ruptured his ACL in training in September last year. A 9 month post return puts him at mid-June. Source.
Michael Naitokani - Was subbed at halftime in rd 4. No clarify on if it was an injury but wasn’t named in rd 5.
Etonia Waqa - Came off with a serious looking knee injury in rd 6.
Frank Lomani- Red carded for throwing an elbow to Canham’s head in rd 7. Banded for 6 weeks so he should return rd 14.
Jone Koroiduadua - Headbutted someone and was red carded in rd 7, banned for 2 weeks. Will return in rd 11.

Moana Pasifika
Alamanda Motuga - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
James Lay - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Samuel Slade - Unavailable for round 2 due to injury. Source.
Anzelo Tuitavuki - Listed as injured as of round 5. Source.
Henry Taefu - Got injured in rd 4. Source.
Jonathan Taumateine - Listed as injured as of round 5 but hasn’t played this season. Source.
Lalomilo Lalomilo - Listed as injured as of round 5. Source.
Neria Fomai - Listed as injured as of round 5. Source.
Ofa Tauatevalu - Listed as injured as of round 5. Source.
Solomone Funaki - Listed as injured as of round 5. Source.
Kyren Taumoefolau - Came off late with a leg injury in rd 7.
Lotu Inisi - Came off with a concussion in rd 6 so should return after the bye.

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.