Casualty Ward Super Rugby Pacific Rd 4

We are 4 weeks into Super Rugby Pacific and the Casualty Ward is filling up. 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 4:

Geoff Cridge (Waratahs) - Recovered from his rd 2 ankle.
Jeremy Williams (Waratahs) - Suffered a groin infection leading into round 3. Started in rd 4.
Archer Holz (Waratahs) - Recovered from a thigh injury to make his debut.
Andrew Kellaway (Rebels) - Recovered from a stress fracture in his foot.
Reece Hodge (Rebels) - Back from his 1 game suspension.
Jordan Uelese (Rebels) - Recovered from his the rib injury he struggled with to star the year.
Taniela Tupou (Reds) - Suffered a back injury in the warm-up of rd 2. Started in rd 4.
Rodney Iona (Brumbies) - Tore his calf in the trial against the Waratahs on the 30th of January. Made his comeback via the bench.
Bayley Kuenzle (Western Force) - Suffered a concussion in round 1. Started in the 12 jersey this week.
Andrew Ready (Western Force) - Was stood down for rd 3 after drinking alcohol on the flight from Melbourne to Perth last week.
Baden Kerr (Drua) - Pulled pregame rd 3 with an injury but recovered to play rd 4.

Andrew Makalio (Highlanders) - Sprung a surprise on us to play off the bench this week.
Leicester Fainga'anuku (Crusaders) - Pulled pregame rd 3 with a knee injury. Recovered well enough to play 60 odd minutes this week.

Likely back this week (Rd 5):

James Ramm (Waratahs) – Expected back in rd 5 from his rib injury. Source.
Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco (Waratahs) - Aiming to play rd 5 after recovering from a hip injury. Source.
Lachie Anderson (Rebels) - A late withdrawal before rd 2 with a groin strain. Was a close call for rd 3, but still no confirmation on his return. Source.
Liam Wright (Reds) - Suffered a right shoulder injury in rd 1, scans showed there was no severe. Source. "Will press for selection in rd 4", so should play rd 5. Source.
Nemani Nagusa (Drua) - Injured his knee in rd 2, was apparently close to selection in rd 4 so we think he will play this week. Source.
Caleb Muntz (Drua) - Suffered a concussion in rd 3, is back training with the side so we would think he is available to play this week. Source.

Dane Coles (Hurricanes) - Is apparently struggling with a calf injury. The earliest he might play is rd 5 or 6. Source.
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) - Tore a ligament in his knee in rd 1 and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks, so could be back around week 5. Source.
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes) - Was pulled late for rd 3 because he was "crook" . Given the amount of COVID in the Hurricanes camp we assume this is the case, which could see him back this week if he recovers well. Source.
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) - Suffered an MCL injury on the 8th of Feb. Apparently nearing a return as of rd 3. Source.
Tom Robinson (Blues) - Has been battling an ankle injury and missed round 4. It sounds like it isn't too bad so we think he could be back this week. Source.

New Injuries (Rd 4):

Dave Porecki (Waratahs) - Suffered a groin injury during the week and was pulled from the side late.
Jake Gordon (Waratahs) - Pulled up with a tight hamstring on Wednesday. Given his history of repeat tears they have decided to pull him early. We heard he will be out for 3-4 weeks.
Max Douglas (Waratahs) - Pulled from the side late with an injury. No more details yet.
Jeremy Williams (Waratahs) - Tore his hamstring pilfering a ball and being forced into an overstretch type injury. Generally I fear the worst for these ones, but he had the ice on his mid hamstring, so fingers crossed it is no more than 4-6 weeks.
Ratu Rotuisolia (Drua) - Came off after only 19 minutes clutching at his hamstring.
Isoa Nasilsila (Drua) - Didn't come back onto the field after half time. We haven't heard if this was due to injury.
Meli Derenalagi (Drua) - Came off after 51 minutes after struggling with an ankle injury before that.
Tom Robertson (Force) - Injured his calf in rd 4 and not listed for rd 5. Source.
Kyle Godwin (Force) - Suffered an HIA and won't play rd 5. Source.
Toni Pulu (Force) - Suffered an HIA and won't play rd 5. Source.

Brad Weber (Chiefs) - Missed rd 4 due to COVID isolation (we know only 1 player had COVID, but not who it was). Source.
Josh Ioane (Chiefs) - Missed rd 4 due to COVID isolation. Source.
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Chiefs) - Was pulled from the side late. We aren't sure if this was due to COVID protocols or due to injury. Source.
Scott Barrett (Crusaders) - Pulled from the side late on undisclosed medical grounds. Hard to see this being anything other than COVID protocols. Source.
Brodie McAlister (Crusaders) - Pulled from the side late on undisclosed medical grounds. Hard to see this being anything other than COVID protocols. Source.
Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders) - Pulled from the side late on undisclosed medical grounds. Hard to see this being anything other than COVID protocols. Source.
Mitch Dunshea (Crusaders) - Pulled from the side late on undisclosed medical grounds. Hard to see this being anything other than COVID protocols. Source.
Beauden Barrett (Blues) - Was pulled late from the match. The team has said they have COVID in the camp, but haven't said if this is why he was pulled. Source.
Nepo Laulala (Blues) - Was pulled late from the match. The team has said they have COVID in the camp, but haven't said if this is why he was pulled. Source.
Sam Nock (Blues) - Was pulled late from the match. The team has said they have COVID in the camp, but haven't said if this is why he was pulled. Source.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Highlanders) - Had to be taken from the pitch before halftime with a suspected groin injury. Source.
Liam Coombes-Fabling (Highlanders) - Came off with a knee injury.
Gareth Evans (Highlanders) - Came off for an HIA and failed his concussion test.

Ongoing Injury List:

AUSTRALIA

Western Force
Kane Koteka - Has missed Rds 3 and 4 with a bruised knee. Source.

Brumbies
Folau Fainga'a - Sprained his ankle in rd 3 but managed to play on for another 10 minutes so we suspect it isn't too severe. Could still be a 1-2 week injury.

Reds
Suliasi Vunivalu - Retore his hamstring during the Wallabies season. Still several weeks away from a return as of rd 3. 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.
Tate McDermott - suffered a high ankle (Syndesmosis) injury in rd 2. Is expected to miss 4-6 weeks which puts the earliest return date as round 8. Source.
Angus Scott-Young - Limped off with a knee (MCL) injury in rd 2. Is expected to miss 4-6 weeks which puts the earliest return date as round 8. Source.
Alex Mafi - Had two bones in his neck fused after rd 3. Expected to be out for 12 weeks. We think it could end his season. Source.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - Came off 4 minutes into rd 3 with a high ankle (Syndesmosis) injury. Expected to miss at least 4 weeks. 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. 
George Worth - Suffered a concussion in rd 2, no word on how he is progressing. 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. Returning to training after rd 4; aiming to return in rd 7. Source.
Lachie Swinton - Hurt his shoulder late in the drought-breaking win over the Drua. His return date is still undecided as he recovers from a nerve injury. Source.
James Turner - Rolled his ankle during the rd 3 warm-up and was ruled out of the game. Expected to return rd 6-7. 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.
Josh Timu - Tore his PCL in rd 2 and will miss 6 weeks. Source.
James Lentjes - Hadn't recovered from a rd 2 concussion so was pulled from the side late in rd 3. Source.

Chiefs
Mitch Brown - Isn’t expected to be fit for the opening rounds after undergoing minor surgery. Source.
Simon Parker - Currently out as of rd 3 & 4 nursing an injury. Source.
Samipeni Finau - Currently out as of rd 3 & 4 nursing an injury. Source.
Kaleb Trask - Apparently has an injury as of rd 4. Source.
Gideon Wrampling - Apparently has an injury as of rd 4. Source.

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.
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.
Jamie Booth - Suffered a knee injury in training and was ruled out of rd 3. We don't know the severity of the injury yet. Source.
Nehe Milner-Skudder - Suffered a concussion in the Crusaders trial on Feb 12th. Will have to go through concussion protocols. 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.
Oli Jager - Pulled late in the week of rd 3 with calf tightness. Source. Still kept him out of rd 4.

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.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - Forced from the game in rd 3 with a shoulder injury that will keep him sidelined for "several weeks". Source. Apparently landed heavily on his shoulder which makes us suspect it is an AC joint injury.

PACIFIKA TEAMS

Fiji Drua
Nil

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.
Harry Plummer (Blues) - Has already had surgery n his shoulder and will miss the rest of the year. 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.