Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rd 2
Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rd 2
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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Returned in Rd 2:
Connor Garden-Bachop (Highlanders) - Recovered from his wrist injury to play in the 15 jersey for the Highlanders.
Likely back this week (Rd 3):
Will Harrison (Waratahs) - Injured his AC joint (shoulder) putting a big tackle on during the trial against the Brumbies on Jan 29th. Was expected back in rd 2 but never made the side. We would think he will play this week. Source.
James Ramm (Waratahs) – Suffered a rib injury. Targetting a return in round 3-4. Source.
Andrew Kellaway (Rebels) - Has a stress fracture in his foot. Is hopeful of returning in rd 3. Source.
Hunter Paisami (Reds) - Ruled out of rd 1 after taking a knock on his knee.
Bailey Kuenzle (Western Force) - Suffered a concussion in round 1. We haven't heard any details but a standard recovery should see him back this week.
Dalton Papalii (Blues) - Missed round 2 with a head knock. Is looking likely to play round 3. Source.
Beauden Barrett(Blues) - Still suffering from concussion symptoms from the game against Ireland on November 14th. Is looking likely to play round 3. Source.
Richie Mo'Unga (Crusaders) - Has a clause in his contract to miss as many as 6 Super Rugby games this year if he chooses to. Has now been named as available for rd 3. Source.
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) - Available to play his first game of the year in rd 3. Source.
New Injuries (Rd 2):
Geoff Cridge (Waratahs) - Came off with an ankle injury and won't be right for round 3. Apparently overhead saying he heard a crack, which would suggest he is gone for at least 4-6 weeks. Source.
Reece Hodge (Rebels) - Has been suspended for 1 match following his round 2 red card. Source.
Jordan Uelese (Rebels) - Will be racing the clock to prove his fitness for round 3 after flaring up the rib injury that had him come off early in rd 1. Source.
Lachie Anderson (Rebels) - A late withdrawal on the weekend with a groin strain, he may be back for rd 3. Source.
George Worth (Rebels) - Only lasted 2 minutes before coming off with a concussion. Source.
Taniela Tupou (Reds) - Suffered a back injury in the warm-up, pulled from the team with back spasms.
Tate McDermott (Reds) - Off after 38 minutes with a high ankle (Syndesmosis) injury. Is expected to miss 4-6 weeks which puts the earliest return date as round 8. Source.
Angus Scott-Young (Reds) - Limped off with a knee (MCL) injury. Is expected to miss 4-6 weeks which puts the earliest return date as round 8. Source.
Alex Mafi (Reds) - Came off with an injury in rd 2. No more info yet. Source.
Izack Rodda (Western Force) - Was helped off the field late in the game with a calf injury. Source.
Josh Timu (Highlanders) - "Has done a knee". Sadly we think he is probably referring to an ACL injury, but this is not confirmed. Source.
Ethan de Groot (Highlanders) - Came off with a rib injury, and sounds like a maybe for rd 3. Source.
James Lentjes (Highlanders) - Came off with "a bad neck that he’s had for a while, sounds like a maybe for rd 3. Source.
Ongoing Injury List:
AUSTRALIA
Western Force
Nil
Brumbies
Rodney Iona - Tore his calf in the trial against the Waratahs on the 30th of January. We aren't sure of the severity of the tear. Source.
Reds
Suliasi Vunivalu - Retore his hamstring during the Wallabies season. Apparently he will miss the first 4-5 weeks. Source.
Isaac Henry - Will be out for the first month of the Super Rugby Pacific season after he broke a bone in his foot at training. Source.
Richie Asiata - Broke his arm in the Reds trial and is due to have surgery on the 7th of Feb. Source.
Liam Wright - Suffered a right shoulder injury in rd 1, scans showed there was no severe damage but he still missed rds 2 and 3 with soreness. Source.
Rebels
Trevor Hosea - Fractured his foot and will miss the first three months of Super Rugby. Source.
Pone Fa'amausili - Struggling with a calf injury. Expecting to return in the first few weeks of the competition. Source. But not in rd 3. Source.
Rob Leota - Out with a hamstring injury to start the season. Won't play in rd 3. Source.
Josh Kemeny - Expected to miss the majority of the season with an unknown injury. Source.
Waratahs
Ned Hanigan - Playing in Japan until the end of their 2022 season in May.
Mosese Tuipulotu - The young centre is injured and won't be available to play. Will be out until at least rd 11. Source.
Michael Hooper - Has a Lis Franc injury in his foot from November that will keep him out of the first few rounds of SR Pacific. Source. Also has a negotiated leave period in his contract for this year and is due back by round 5 or 6. Source.
Archer Holz - Has a thigh injury. Back in round 3-4. Source.
Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco - We got wind of him having a hip injury before round 1. There is no published return date yet.
Lachie Swinton - Hurt his shoulder late in the drought-breaking win over the Drua. Return date is TBC. Source.
NEW ZEALAND
Highlanders
Billy Harmon - Had a right shoulder operation in October that will keep him out until April. Source.
Solomon Alaimalo - Tony Brown said he was again unavailable due to personal reasons. There is no timeframe on his return. Source.
Rory van Vugt - Broke his wrist in the trial of three halves on the 12th Feb. We suspect he will be out for six weeks. Source.
Christian Lio-Willie - Broke his hand in the lead up to their final trial. We suspect he will be out for roughly the first four weeks of Super Rugby. Source.
Chiefs
Mitch Brown - Isn’t expected to be fit for the opening rounds after undergoing minor surgery. Source.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi - Came off with a leg injury in rd 1.
Hurricanes
Owen Franks - The returning All Black was originally said to miss the entire season with an Achilles rupture and repair. Source. Now he is aiming to return on April 8th against the Hurricanes. Source.
Isaia Walker-Leawere - In doubt for most of the season with a shoulder injury. Source.
Dominic Bird - Is nursing an injury and is expected to miss the start of the season. Source.
TJ Perenara - Suffered an MCL injury on the 8th of Feb. He was spotted in a brace meaning he is a grade 2-3 injury. They have said he is aiming to return in a month, but there is a good chance in our opinion it could be six weeks. Source.
Cam Roigard - Suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason which has lead to injury cover being called in to the squad. We aren't sure how long he is out, but it doesn't sound good. Source.
Nehe Milner-Skudder - Suffered a concussion in the Crusaders trial on Feb 12th. Will have to go through concussion protocols. Source.
Du-Plessis Kirifi - Came off with a hip pointer in rd 1 and didn't play rd 2. No word yet on a return date, but could be anywhere from 1-4 weeks out.
Billy Proctor - Was injured in round 1, but we don't know any more. Source.
Crusaders
Jack Goodhue - Ruptured his ACL in April 2021. It sounds like he is targeting a 12-month return, meaning he will a large amount of SR Pacifika. Source.
Ethan Blackadder - Will miss the first three games with a hamstring injury. Source.
Waisake Naholo - Was set to travel with the team to Queenstown, but tweaked his hamstring at training on the 8th of Feb. Source.
Blues
Akira Ioane - Ruled out of round 2 late with a Lisfranc Injury. Apparently in a cast so we are fearing the worst, it could be the end of his Super Rugby season. Source. Update; he will be out "long term". Source.
PACIFIKA TEAMS
Fiji Drua
Teti Tela - is undertaking light training only as he recovers from an Achilles tendon rupture. By the time he is ready to take part in full training, it will be pretty close to the start of the season. Source.
Moana Pasifika
Solomone Kata - Injured his ankle in their first trial against the Chiefs. We don't know how long he will be out for yet.
Gone for the season:
Alivereti Veitokani (Drua) - Has a major knee injury. Expected to return to rugby in 2023. Source.
Joey Walton (Waratahs) - Has done his second ACL in only his second session back for the Waratahs back in October 21. Will miss the entire SR Pacifika season. Source.
Dillon Hunt (Blues) - Forced into early retirement due to Concussion. Source.
Patelesio Tomkinson (Highlanders) - will miss the entirety of the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season after injuring his foot while playing for Otago. Vereniki Tikoisolomone has been called up as his replacement. Source.
Pari Pari Parkinson (Highlanders) - Suffered a "multi-ligament knee injury" in November 2021 (this will be ACL plus others). He won't be back for roughly twelve months. Source.
Jona Nareki (Highlanders) - Ruptured his ACL last August. Even a 9-month recovery wouldn't have him back until May. Source.
Nathan Harris (Chiefs) - Has had to retire due to chronic ankle pain. Source.
Reuben O'Neill (Chiefs) - Out for the year. Thank you to Tom Vinicombe for the inside scoop.
Fraser Armstrong (Hurricanes) - Retired due to injury. Source.
Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.
Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.