The Casualty Ward 2020 Preseason
The Casualty Ward 2020 Preseason
Super Rugby 2020 is almost here, and with it comes the most important night of the Fantasy Rugby calendar, Draft night! Make sure you stay up to date with all the injury news so that you know who to pick, who to leave, and who to plan as your mid season smokie. Once again we are your one stop shop for everything injury related!
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Returned from Long term injury
Tiaan Falcon (Chiefs) - Back from an Achilles tendon repair. Will struggle for time with Cruden back.
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) - In December he started contact training, he is apparently on track for the start of the season. Source.
Tevita Nabura (Highlanders) – Had an ACL repair in February and sat our the Mitre 10 cup to ensure he would be fit and firing for this season. Source.
Bryn Gatland (Highlanders) – Came of with a serious left foot injury in round 11. Sounds like a bad Lis Franc injury which is what Nehe Milner-Skudder had last year, gone for 6 months. Source.
Vince Aso (Hurricanes) – His round 4 pec injury cost him his Super Rugby season but after playing all through the Mitre 10 cup he should be raring to go in 2020.
Manasa Mataele - Tore his ACL in February last year. Back playing in the trials this season.
Garth April (Sunwolves) - Missed 2019 with a shoulder injury but is now fit and has been named in the Sunwolves squad.
Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares) - Injured his calf during the RWC and was originally expected to miss the start of the season. He made an early return to captain the side against Georgia in the preseason.
Tyler Paul - Missed all of the Currie Cup recovering from an unknown long term injury in Super Rugby. Played in his teams trials.
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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.
Manaaki Selby-Rickit - Serving a 4 game suspension after being found guilty of assualt. Will miss the 2 preseason games and the Highlanders first 2 games. Source.
Ash Dixon - Didn't play in the trial against the Waratahs on the 17th of Jan due to injury, hopefully of being ready for round 1. Source.
Jeff Thwaites - Should be back around round 4 or 5 from an ankle injury. Source.
Rob Thompson - Has been injured but should be back for the final trial against the Crusaders. Source.
Ngane Punivai - Will return early in the season from a knee injury. Source.
Scott Gregory - Not injured, but is due to leave for the NZ 7s around March.
Hurricanes
Ardie Savea - Will miss 5-6 months due to having to undergo knee surgery after hurting himself during the World Cup Semi Final. Announced December 1st, meaning he would likely only be back for the finals. Source.
Salesi Rayasi - Currently with the NZ 7's, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
Chiefs
Luke Jacobson - After a meteoric rise last year he missed the 2019 RWC with lingering concussion symptoms. He is due to be back in round 3. Source.
Nathan Harris - Announced on the 15th of January that he has had a shoulder operation. At this stage there is no detail as to what was done and when he would be back. I'd be surprised if he didn't miss at least the first four to six weeks though. Source.
Etene Nanai-Seturo - Currently with the NZ 7's, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
Crusaders
Sam Whitelock - Apparently he could be back from his sabbatical around May.
Blues
Beauden Barrett - The star flyhalf/ fullback is on leave until mid April. Source.
Caleb Clarke - Currently with the NZ 7's, we believe he is unlikely to play much Super Rugby.
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AUSTRALIA
Brumbies
Reds
Harry Hoopert - Broke his hand on Tuesday 14th Jan. Touch and go to play the Super Rugby opener. Worst case he could be gone for 4-6 weeks. Credit Nic Darveniza for this info.
Izack Rodda - Still recovering from a post Rugby World Cup ankle surgery, at risk of missing the start of Super Rugby. Source.
Feao Fotuaika - Still rehabbing his ankle from an off season injury. To our knowledge he should be right for the start of the season, but it is not confirmed.
Scott Malolou - Tore his ACL and had it reconstructed in September. An early return around 9 months would have him only back in June.
Fraser McReight - Had offseason hip surgery but has apparently recovered. Then dislocated his thumb on Tuesday the 14th and is in doubt for the first 3 rounds of Super Rugby. Source.
Filipo Daugunu - Red carded for a tip tackle late in the Reds trial on the 17th of January. Watch this space RE his ban! Source.
JP Smith - Had a minor surgery to clean up his knee in the off season and wasn't ready for their trial. Source.
Henry Speight - Had a minor surgery to clean up his knee in the off season and wasn't ready for their trial. 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.
Waratahs
Will Harris - Broke his nose in week two of preseason. Should not effect his season at all. Source.
Ned Hanigan - is nursing a niggle but is expected to be fit for the team's second trial. Source.
SOUTH AFRICA
Sharks
Werner Kok - Won't join the Sharks until August 2020. Source.
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.
Pieter-Steph du Toit - Will miss the Super Hero Sunday preseason clash because of a shoulder injury. Dobson says he should be right for round 1. Source.
JD Schickerling - 50/50 for round 1, not sure what his injury isx`. Source.
Cobus Wiese - Missed the Currie Cup with a knee injury. 50/50 for for round 1. 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.
Bulls
Trevor Nyakane - A "Niggly hamstring" injury is likely to keep him out of Superhero Sunday. Unlikely to cost him much game time during the season. Source.
Lizo Gqoboka - Injured through preseason but is unlikely to miss any of Super Rugby according to Brenden Nel.
Ruan Steenkamp - Picked up a concussion in September and hasn't played since. Only started contact again at the start of 2020. The Bulls will be very cautious with bringing him back to play. Source.
Lions
Warren Whiteley - 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.
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.
Willem Alberts - If he finalises his contract with the Lions then he might still miss the start of the season as he recovers from a bicep (arm) injury.
Johannes Jonker - Expected to return to action by the second week of the competition. Source.
Rhyno Herbst - Got injured in pre season, will be out for some time. No more details yet. Source.
Hacjivah Dayimani - Came back from the Blitzboks with a minor niggle, and his absence is precautionary. Source.
Ross Cronje - Missed Super Hero Sunday with an ankle injury, may require major surgery. Source.
Ruan Vermaak - Missed Super Hero Sunday with an injury, no mroe details yet. Source.
Reinhard Nothnagel - Has a minor concussion, missed Super hero Sunday. Source.
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ARGENTINA/JAPAN
Jaguares
Jerónimo de la Fuente - Tore his left Soleus muscle (calf) at training on the 14th of Jan. Expected to be back in 3 weeks will likely miss round 1. Source.
Sunwolves
Nil
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Gone for the season:
Baden Wardlaw (Blues) - Forced to retire before the season due to a chronic neck fusion. 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.
Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.
Written by your local rugby nerd Harrison Dale.