Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rounds 7-8

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.

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New Injuries Round 7:

Angus Bell (Waratahs) - Came off with a recurrence of the toe injury that has already cost him two super rugby seasons. Won’t play again in Super Rugby this year. Source.
Santiago Medrano (Force) - Pulled pregame rd 7 with a concussion.
Frank Lomani (Drua) - Red carded for throwing an elbow to Canham’s head. Will go through the judiciary.
Selestino Ravutaumada (Drua) - Came off with a concussion in rd 7.
Jone Koroiduadua (Drua) - Headbutted someone, red carded, will go through the judiciary.

Kyren Taumoefolau (Moana) - Came off late with a leg injury.

Likely Back for Round 8:

Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) - Going through concussion protocols after rd 6 so could return. Source.
Jack Grant (Waratahs) - Going through concussion protocols after rd 6 so could return. Source.
Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) - Recovering from a knee injury and missing rounds 6 and 7, no idea about a return date. Source.
Lachie Anderson (Rebels) - Came off in rd 6 with a concussion so we assume he will be back.
Andrew Kellaway (Rebels) - Came off at halftime in rd 5 after struggling with what looked like a hip injury. Aiming to play rd 8.
Josh Kemeny (Rebels) - Pulled pregame rd 6, back starting this week. Source.
Massimo De Lutiis (Reds) - Just fit to return from a quad injury. This weekend should be his first week fit for selection after playing club footy last week. Source.
Connor Anderson (Reds) - Missing since the trials with an ankle injury, played club rugby in rd 7. Source.
Alex Hodgman (Reds) - Came off with a shoulder injury in rd 2. Back via the bench this week. Source.

Owen Franks (Crusaders) - Was cited late after rd 4 and banded for 2 weeks for a high tackle. Will miss rounds 5 and 6. Source.
Quinten Strange (Crusaders) - Limped off the field in rd 6.
Mitchell Drummond (Crusaders) - Pulled pregame rd 6 without a known reason. Source.
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders) - Expected to finally return from a calf injury in rd 8. Source.
Brodie McAlister (Crusaders) - Dislocated his knee cap in the last trial. Should return in 8. Source.
Lotu Inisi (Moana) - Came off with a concussion in rd 6 so could return.
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.
Jona Nareki (Highlanders) - Came off with an ankle injury in rd 6, apparently not severe but will be assessed further after the bye. Source.

Returned in Round 7:

Will Harris (Force) - Back via the bench after missing last week with a concussion.
Marley Pearce (Force) - Back via the bench after serving out his ban.
Matt Proctor (Rebels) - Returned via the bench after picking up an injury back in rd 2.
Angus Bell (Waratahs) - Missed last week with a back injury.
Charlie Gamble (Waratahs) - Pulled pregame last week with a calf injury but was fine returning this week.
Connal McInerney (Brumbies) - Made his first appearance off the bench after recovering from a long term injury.

Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs) - Returned from a concussion sustained in rd 5.
Suetena Asomua (Moana) - Back after being unavailable since rd 2.
Viliami Fine (Moana) - Returned from his rd 2 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.
Izack Rodda - Was meant to return from his foot osteotomy in rd 1, then tore his quad in training. Now expected to be out for 6 weeks. Source. As of rd 5 “still a few weeks away". Source.
Michael Wells - Out of round 4 with a knee injury. Waiting on scans to determine the severity of his injury. 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.
Blake Schoupp - Came off with an AC joint injury in rd 4. Hoping to be back for rd 8 after their bye. Seems to be on track after playing club footy in rd 7. 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
Sef Fa’agase - Has been banned for 4 weeks in rd 3 so won’t return until round 8. Source.
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.

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.
Ryan Crotty - Sustained a minor groin injury during Captain’s Run before rd 5 so was pulled from the team sheet. 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
Sam Darry - Came off with a serious MCL injury in rd 2. Expected back in rd 9 after the bye. Source.
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.
Patrick Tuipulotu - Suffered a head knock rd 6. Expected back in rd 9 after the bye. Source.
Bryce Heem - Suffered a head knock rd 6. Expected back in rd 9 after the bye. 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.
Mark Tele’a - Missing rd 7 due to a rib injury. Expected back in rd 9 after the bye. 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 - Missed rd 7 with illness. 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.
Isoa Nasilasila - Came off with an ankle injury in rd 2 that was expected to keep him out for 3-4 weeks so we expect him back after the bye. Source.
Etonia Waqa - Came off with a serious looking knee injury in rd 6.

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.

Gone for the season:

This will be completed during the season.

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Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.