THREE season-ending injuries, All Blacks return for Kiwi sides, Kuenzle’s long-awaited call-up

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 All Blacks making long-awaited returns to the field.

Among the international names returning are Anton Lienert Brown for the Chiefs, Codie Taylor for the Crusaders and Billy Proctor for the Hurricanes.

While one Wallaby star copped a season-ending injury at Suncorp Stadium, Darby Lancaster has been cleared for the Tahs, though he will miss the flight to Fiji.

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The big news will see Bayley Kuenzle make his long-awaited return from a knee injury for the Western Force, with the exciting centre one of the big finds for Simon Cron in his current stint in the West.

The Reds, meanwhile, will enjoy a much needed bye – and it will be most welcome given their extensive injury list.

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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 as 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 Thursday, 17th April 2025, ahead of round ten of Super Rugby Pacific.

Casualty Ward – Super Rugby Pacific, Round Ten

Australian sides

ACT Brumbies

The Brumbies’ growing casualty ward will see Len Ikitau miss their trip to New Zealand after sustaining a concussion against the Reds; however, Blake Schoupp’s Achilles injury means the Wallaby prop will miss the remainder of 2025, an enormous disappointment for the exciting star.

Klayton Thorn has been released from the casualty ward; however has not been named in the side to head across the Tasman.

New injuries:

• Len Ikitau – concussion – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 11
• Blake Schoupp – Achilles – Duration: Season – Earliest return: 2026

Ongoing:

• Ben O’Donnell – Hamstring – Duration: long-term – Earliest Return: TBC
• Tevita Alatini – ACL – Duration: long-term – Earliest Return: TBC
• Harry Vella – ACL – Duration: long-term – Earliest Return: TBC
• 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:

None

Returning from injury:

NSW Waratahs

The good news keeps building for the Tahs – not only did the side not sustain any injuries following their win over the Chiefs, but they will welcome back both Charlie Gamble and Darby Lancaster this week. Gamble will come straight into the starting side to face the Fijian Drua, with Lancaster not being selected.

New injuries:

None

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:

None

Returning from injury:

• Charlie Gamble
• Darby Lancaster

Western Force

The Western Force are back off the bye, but picked up an injury to Dylan Pietsch in their win over the Highlanders, with the Wallaby missing several matches now due to the troublesome leg injuries.

However, the loss will be offset somewhat by the much-anticipated return of Bayley Kuenzle to the centres, the talented back comes straight into the starting side for their match against the Hurricanes.

New injuries:

• Dylan Pietsch – quad – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Matt Proctor – Shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Divad Palu – Shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Ryan Coxon – Ribs – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC

Season losses:

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

Returning from injury:

Queensland Reds

The Queensland Reds enjoy a much-needed bye this weekend, and as such, have no changes to their casualty ward.

New injuries

N/A

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

N/A

Pacific Sides

Fijian Drua

The Drua will be glad to be back at home, and also will be glad to have not picked up any injuries in their loss to the Highlanders. The flipside, though, is they have had no players released from the casualty ward – meaning the side will be without Frank Lomani and Meli Derenalagi for their crunch match against the Waratahs.

New injuries:

None

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
• Kitione Salawa – thigh – Duration: short-term – Earliest return: TBC

Season losses:

None

Returning from injury:

None

Moana Pasifika

While his side went down against the Blues, Tana Umaga will be happy about the continued improvement of the casualty ward.

While James Lay returns to the ward with a persistent neck injury, Michael Curry, Jonathan Taumateine, and Sione Mafile’o are all back on duty – and have been moved straight into the starting side for their clash with the Brumbies.

New injuries:

• James Lay – neck – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC

Ongoing:

• Lotu Inisi – hamstring – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Solomon Alaimalo – foot – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC
• Tito Tuipulotu – knee – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC

Season losses:

Returning from injury:

• Michael Curry
• Jonathan Taumateine
• Sione Mafile’o

New Zealand sides

Blues

The Blues will welcome back handy utility back Zarn Sullivan, who will come straight into the starting side for their crunch match against the Crusaders.

However, the side has lost valuable All Black Caleb Clarke to a calf injury, which is far from ideal timing given the side needs to put together a late finals charge.

New injuries:

• Caleb Clarke – calf – Duration: TBC – Earliest Return: TBC

Ongoing:

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

Season losses:

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

Returning from injury:

Chiefs

Simon Parker is set to sustain another head knock, meaning the talented loose forward will endure another stint in the casualty ward following his side’s loss to the Waratahs.

However, will enjoy a welcome return, with Kaleb Trask and veteran All Black Anton Lienert-Brown finally available again after long stints on the sidelines. Lienert-Brown, unsurprisingly, has been brought straight onto the bench for their clash with the Highlanders.

New injuries:

• Simon Parker – HIA – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 11

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
• Josh Lord – Knee – Duration: four-six weeks – Earliest return: round ten
• Wallace Sititi – Knee – Duration: long term – Earliest Return: TBC

Season losses:

Returning from injury:

• Kaleb Trask
• Anton Lienert-Brown

Crusaders

It is all good news if you are a Crusaders fan. Not only did the side sustain no injuries over the Hurricanes, but they also welcome back four stars, including All Black Codie Taylor.

Three of the players, being Taylor, Kyle Preston and Dallas McLeod, will be included in the side that will play the Blues.

New injuries:

None

Ongoing:

• Dom Gardiner – Hamstring – Duration: Four-six weeks – Earliest return: Round 11
• Braydon Ennor – hamstring – Duration: three weeks – Earliest return: Round 13
• George Bell – Foot – Duration: 8 weeks – Earliest return: Round 16
• Tahlor Cahill – AC joint – Duration: 1-2 weeks – Earliest return: Round 11

Season losses:

• Finlay Brewis – Shoulder

Returning from injury:

• Codie Taylor
• Kyle Preston
• Johnny McNicholl
• Dallas McLeod

Highlanders

Look away, Landers fans.

The good news is that the side will welcome back three stars in Mitch Dunshea, TK Howden and Soane Vikena – with all three coming into the starting 23 to face the Chiefs.

However, the good news ends there. Nikora Broughton returns to the ward after just one week coming off the bench, and is set to be joined by James Arscott and the talented Tanielu Tele’a.

Even worse, the Highlanders have copped TWO season-ending injuries in one week, with Hayden Michaels confirmed to miss the rest of the season after battling for several weeks to get his hamstring back in form, while Ajay Faleafaga has sustained a significant hand injury. Both will join Finn Hurley to watch the remainder of Super Rugby Pacific from the sidelines.

New injuries:

• Nikora Broughton – Knee MCL – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Ajay Faleafaga – Hand – Duration: Season – Earliest return: 2026
• James Arscott – Shoulder – Duration: TBC – Earliest return: TBC
• Tanielu Tele’a – Hamstring – Duration: 2-3 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 11

Season losses:

• Finn Hurley – Quad
• Hayden Michaels – Hamstring

Returning from injury:

• Mitch Dunshea
• TK Howden
• Soane Vikena

Hurricanes

The Hurricanes have some welcome news, with the side not picking up any injuries following their loss to the Crusaders. They welcome back some crucial cavalry, with Tjay Clarke, Zach Gallagher and All Black Billy Proctor all released early from the ward, with the latter two coming onto the bench for the side’s match against the Force.

New injuries:

None

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:

• Tjay Clarke
• Billy Proctor
• Zach Gallagher