SEVEN injuries from Force-Canes clash, key All Black sidelined, Ikitau, Campbell return

Welcome to the Super Rugby Pacific Casualty Ward, the hub of all injury updates and news for the 2025 season.

All sides have named their squads for this week on Wednesday, with several key players coming back into the fold on both sides of the Tasman.

All Black Damian McKenzie headlines a large cohort of All Blacks forced onto the sidelines, which includes Ethan Blackadder, Dalton Papali’i and Asafo Aumua.

The physicality of the competition shone through, with seven players coming out of the brutal contest in the west injured last week, including four concussions.

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The key returning Australian players include Len Ikitau for the Brumbies and Jock Campbell for the Reds – however the Force felt the effects of their contest with the Hurricanes, with four players – including two Wallabies – sidelined ahead of the start of their critical tour of New Zealand.

After their loss in Fiji, the Waratahs will have the bye before they endure a tough run of games home.

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The following list and summary detail the current state of injuries confirmed by each Super Rugby side, with the type of injury and reported duration on the sidelines. We have also included the earliest return estimate based on the data available.

This acts purely as a guide for team statuses and Super Rugby Fantasy and can be subject to late change ahead of opening fixtures.

Lastly, this page will be under heavy construction throughout the season – the casualty ward is accurate as of Wednesday, 23rd April 2025, ahead of round 11 of Super Rugby Pacific.

Casualty Ward – Super Rugby Pacific, Round 11

Australian sides

ACT Brumbies

The Brumbies survived their trip to New Zealand unscathed, their win over Moana Pasifika also coming with no injuries.

It is good news for the team from Canberra, with Wallaby Len Ikitau back from concussion, and straight back into the side to face the Hurricanes.

New injuries:

None

Ongoing:

• Ben O’Donnell – Hamstring – Duration: long-term – Earliest Return: TBC
• Tevita Alatini – ACL – Duration: long-term – Earliest Return: TBC
• Harry Vella – ACL – Duration: 1 week – Earliest Return: Round 12
• Charlie Cale – back – Duration: long-term – Earliest return: TBC
• Kadin Pritchard – knee – Duration: 2-4 weeks – Earliest return: Round 13
• Jack Debreczeni – groin – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC

Season losses:

• Blake Schoupp – Achilles

Returning from injury:

NSW Waratahs

The Waratahs will enjoy the bye this weekend – and as such, have an unchanged casualty ward.

New injuries:

N/A

Ongoing:

• Fergus Lee-Warner – foot – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Lucas Ripley – Shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Jake Gordon – medial ligament – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Mahe Vailanu – broken arm – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Dave Porecki – calf – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Max Jorgensen – syndesmosis – Duration: long-term – Earliest return: TBC

Season losses:

N/A

Returning from injury:

N/A

Western Force

If the contest between the Force and the Hurricanes looked brutal on the field, it was even worse judged by the injury toll, with four players left behind for the trip to New Zealand. Wallabies Nic White and Brandon Paenga-Amosa are the biggest hits, while handy loose forward Vaiolini Ekuasi and prop Marley Pearce both picked up shoulder injuries.

However, the Force will regain one prop in Ryan Coxon, who will come straight into the starting side against the Chiefs.

New injuries:

• Nic White – head injury protocols – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12
• Marley Pearce – shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Ankle – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Vaiolini Ekuasi – shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Matt Proctor – Shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Divad Palu – Shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Dylan Pietsch – quad – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC

Season losses:

• Harry Hoopert – Knee
• Harry Johnson-Holmes – Knee

Returning from injury:

Queensland Reds

The Queensland Reds are back off the bye and will face the Blues without breakout Wallaby Matt Faessler, who is set to return to yet another stint in the casualty ward. No players in the Reds’ injury list have returned off the back of the bye.

New injuries

• Matt Faessler – Undisclosed – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Matt Gibbon – Undisclosed – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Isaac Henry – Undisclosed – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Will McCulloch – Undisclosed – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Mason Gordon – Undisclosed – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Josh Flook – hamstring – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Liam Wright – Shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Frankie Goldsbrough – Undisclosed – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Josh Nasser – Undisclosed – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Filipo Daugunu – lower limb – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Harry Wilson – Fractured arm – Duration: 6 weeks – Earliest return: Round 15

Season losses:

None

Returning from injury

None

Pacific Sides

Fijian Drua

The Drua have picked up two injuries following their win over the Waratahs in Lautoka, with Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and their crucial flyhalf Caleb Muntz finding themselves sidelined in a growing casualty ward.

However, the side will welcome back Kitione Salawa, who will come straight into the starting side to face Moana Pasifika.

New injuries:

• Tuidraki Samusamuvodre – knee – Duration: short-term – Earliest Return: TBC
• Caleb Muntz – shoulder – Duration: short-term – Earliest return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Epeli Momo – Knee – Duration: long-term – Earliest return: TBC
• Ilaisa Droasese – wrist – Duration: short-term – Earliest return: TBC
• Meli Derenalagi – knee – Duration: short-term – Earliest return: TBC
• Frank Lomani – shoulder – Duration: short-term – Earliest return: TBC

Season losses:

None

Returning from injury:

Moana Pasifika

After only just a week back in the side, Michael Curry and Sione Mafile’o find themselves back on the injury list – and they’ve been joined by Sama Malolo and Samiuela Moli off the back of Moana’s loss to the Brumbies.

However, the side will welcome back Tito Tuipulotu, who will come straight into the starting side for the Pacific derby clash with the Fijian Drua.

New injuries:

• Michael Curry – neck – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Sama Malolo – shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Samiuela Moli – rib – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Sione Mafile’o – neck – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Lotu Inisi – hamstring – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Solomon Alaimalo – foot – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• James Lay – neck – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC

Season losses:

Returning from injury:

New Zealand sides

Blues

The Blues’ comeback trail has just gotten tougher against the Reds, with critical forward and All Black Dalton Papali’i out with an ankle injury, which will see him miss the flight to Brisbane.

With no other players also back, this will make things even more difficult for the defending champions.

New injuries:

• Dalton Papali’i  – ankle – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Reon Paul – shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Marcel Renata – calf – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Caleb Clarke – calf – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC

Season losses:

• Sam Darry – Shoulder
• Ofa Tu’ungafasi – neck

Returning from injury:

None

Chiefs

Some big losses for the Chiefs have been offset by the return of a major All Black off the bench for this weekend’s match against the Force.

Damian McKenzie will miss the game with a short-term hand injury, but the Chiefs will welcome back Simon Parker, and All Blacks Josh Lord and Wallace Sititi. Parker and Sititi will feature in Friday’s round opener.

New injuries:

• Damian McKenzie – Hand – Duration: returning soon – Earliest return: TBC
• Leroy Carter – Foot – Duration: Returning soon – Earliest return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Liam Coombes Fabling – Knee – Duration: four-six weeks – Earliest Return: round ten
• Etene Nanai-Seturo – hamstring – Duration: long term – Earliest Return: TBC
• Fiti Sa – shoulder – Duration: long-term – Earliest Return: TBC

Season losses:

Returning from injury:

• Simon Parker
• Josh Lord
• Wallace Sititi

Crusaders

The Crusaders will welcome back Tahlor Cahill, who will come onto the bench for their derby match against the Highlanders.

However, the side copped several bad injuries in their win over the Blues last week, notably Ethan Blackadder, who returns to the ward with a persistent hamstring issue.

New injuries:

• Jonny Lee -calf – Duration: 4 weeks – Earliest Return: Round 16
• Lewis Ponini – calf – Duration: 4-6 week – Earliest Return: Round 16
• Ethan Blackadder – hamstring – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Dom Gardiner – Hamstring – Duration: Four-six weeks – Earliest return: Round 12
• Braydon Ennor – hamstring – Duration: three weeks – Earliest return: Round 13
• George Bell – Foot – Duration: 8 weeks – Earliest return: Round 16

Season losses:

• Finlay Brewis – Shoulder

Returning from injury:

Highlanders

The Highlanders are on Struggle Street, with two more injuries following their loss to the Chiefs to Jona Nareki and Daniel Lienert-Brown.

While their casualty ward isn’t as large as the Reds, their lack of depth, plus three critical season-ending injuries, sees a lot more challenges ahead for Jamie Joseph, particularly with several critical games looming in the context of their finals series.

New injuries:

• Daniel Lienert-Brown – Foot – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12
• Jona Nareki – Knee – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12

Ongoing:

• Sean Withy – Suspension – Duration: 3 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12
• Caleb Tangitau – Groin – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12
• Nikora Broughton – Knee MCL – Duration: 5-7 weeks – Earliest return: Round 16
• James Arscott – Shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Tanielu Tele’a – Hamstring – Duration: 2-3 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12

Season losses:

• Finn Hurley – Quad
• Hayden Michaels – Hamstring
• Ajay Faleafaga – Hand

Returning from injury:

None

Hurricanes

After a brutal weekend in Perth, it was not just the Force who copped it in the casualty ward, with THREE players – Peter Umaga-Jensen, Isaia Walker-Leawere, and critically, All Black enforcer Asafo Aumua – sidelined with concussion ahead of the Canes’ match against the Brumbies in Canberra.

The Wellington side will have plenty of experience to call upon, but the loss of three key players is a major hit as they chase the finals.

New injuries:

• Isaia Walker-Leawere – concussion – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12
• Asafo Aumua – concussion – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12
• Peter Umaga-Jensen – concussion – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12

Ongoing:

• Devan Flanders – Ankle – Duration: 11 weeks – Earliest return: Round 12
• Harry Godfrey – lower leg – Duration: four weeks – Earliest return: Round 11

Season losses:

Returning from injury:

None

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This will be my final update for the casualty ward, as I will be departing The Roar this week for a new external role. I would like to wish a warm thank you to Roar readers for always tuning in and for your comments of support and to the team behind the scenes. It’s been a real joy to contribute to this wonderful site and community. Hopefully see you all down the track!