Round Six

Returned from Injury into Round 6:

Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers) – looked good after returning from an ankle injury. He not only played a hand in a try but he also made a try saving tackle.
Jano Vermaak (Stormers) – failed to make an impact on his return from a calf injury due to a concussion.
James Lowe (Chiefs) – jumped straight back into action after being rested with back pains in round 4 and a bye in round 5, gaining over 100 run metres.
Michael Leitch (Chiefs) – returned from a bye and 1 week ban, however he failed to impress.

New Injuries Round 6:

Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs) – Hamstring injury, likely back Rd 6.
Steve Cummins (Rebels) – concussion in the 18th second.
Jordy Reid (Rebels) – stress fracture in the back. Out for up to 6 weeks
Callum Retallick (Rebels) – injured in the second minute.
Ryan Louwrens (Western Force) – Confirmed ACL rupture. Out for the season.
Karmichael Hunt (Reds) – Out for Rd 7, no other news.
Jimmy Tupou (Blues) – concussion.
Ihaia West (Blues) – Ankle injury – will miss the next 4 weeks, expected back Rd 10.
Nepo Laulala (Chiefs) – concussion. Absent from the 3 week touring squad.
Sam Cane (Chiefs) – concussion. Likely to miss at least 1 week, however he is traveling as a part of the Chiefs squad.
Arno Botha (Bulls) – knee injury. Undergoing scans on Tuesday.
Ruan Steenkamp (Bulls) – knee injury. Undergoing scans on Tuesday.
Jano Vermaak (Stormers) – concussion. Likely to miss at least 1 week.
Waylon Murray (Kings) – Hamstring injury, sent home from tour of Aus. Waiting on further scans for more news.
Johnny Fa’auli (Chiefs) – suspended for 4 weeks due to a shoulder charge.
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) – calf strain, doubtful for this week

Likely Back This Week:

Hanro Liebenberg (Bulls) – has been declared fit to replace the injured Arno Botha at number 8.
Sef Fa’agase (Reds)
Izack Rodda (Reds) – Ankle injury.
Liam Squire (Highlanders) – is a chance to play having missed a month with a knee injury.
Sonny Bill Williams (Blues) – Ruptured Achilles. Could return as early as this week, at worst after the bye (round 10)
Ben Smith (Highlanders) – is likely to recover from a hamstring strain.
Dane Coles (Hurricanes) – rested as a precaution due to knee bruising
Vaea Fafita (Hurricanes) – Likely to return this week.
Toni Pulu (Chiefs) – Hamstring injury in rd 4. Named in touring squad.
Ben McCalman (Force)-  will need to pass a fitness test on his thumb if he is to play in round 7.
Lionel Mapoe (Lions) – failed fitness test to play last week.
Harumichi Tatekawa (Sunwolves) – Knock on the knee. Expected to return this week.

Ongoing Injury List:

NEW ZEALAND
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes) – Fractured Metatarsals. Out for at least 6 weeks but our resident physio, Harrison Dale suggests this will likely be longer.
Blade Thomson (Hurricanes) – Shoulder surgery – “two to three weeks away”
Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes) – ongoing concussion symptoms – out for unknown time.
Loni Uhila (Hurricanes) – calf injury – “3 or 4 weeks away”
Ash Dixon (Highlanders) – Back Injury. Unclear when he will return.
Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) – Hamstring (Looking to be 4-6 weeks)
Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) – Hamstring (Looking to be 4-6 weeks)
Nathan Harris (Chiefs) – Return in April from ACL reconstruction
Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) – Dislocated shoulder rd 3. Return end of April
Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) – Ongoing concussion symptoms. No eta on his return.
Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) – Broken Hand round 1. Out for at least 8 weeks.
Kieran Read (Crusaders) – Wrist operation, likely back round 8 (after the bye).
Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders) – hamstring tear, back rd 8 after the bye.
Israel Dagg (Crusaders) – Patella injury sustained rd 3. Likely out for 4-6 weeks
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders) – Calf strain. Likely back for round 8 (after bye).

AUSTRALIA
Jack Dempsey (Waratahs) – right ankle/ leg injury sustained in rd 4. 8-12 wks out.
Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin (Brumbies) – tba.
Sean McMahon (Rebels) – Offseason ankle operation. Return rd 8, after the bye.
Toby Smith (Rebels) – Hamstring Rd 12-13
Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies) – Likely Knee (Meniscus injury) return date TBC
Jarrad Butler (Brumbies) – Leg injury, should return soon.
Adam Coleman (Force) – will miss at least 2 more weeks due to a calf injury.
Jermaine Ainsley (Force) – dislocated elbow, probably season.
Sefa Naivalu (Rebels) – dislocated his shoulder. 4-6 weeks minimum.
Curits Rona (Force) – head knock. Will be assessed.
Kane Koteka (Force) – head knock. Will be assessed.
Bernard Foley (Waratahs) – returning concussion symptoms. Return unknown.

SOUTH AFRICA
Renaldo Bothma (Bulls) – Red Card rd 4. issued with 4 week ban.
Keegan Daniel (Sharks) – Fractured Hand (12 weeks). Appears to be recovering fast.
Patrick Lambie (Sharks) – Fractured vertebrae in his lower back. Estimated at 5-7 weeks
Philip Van Der Walt (Sharks) – fractured cheekbone. Out round 4, further tests needed
Jean-Luc du Plessis (Stormers) – is progressing well following a pelvic bone stress injury and should be available for selection in 1 to 3 weeks time.
Juan De Jongh (Stormers) – MCL back rd 8-10
Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers) – back running after ruptured achillies last year
Damian De Allende (Stormers) – Injured round 1, out for 3 months (syndesmosis)
Steph de Wit (Stormers) – fractured his ankle, the bone healing well after surgery.
Ruan Combrinck (Lions) – Shoulder operation in the off season. Return round 8
Cyle Brink (Lions) – Shoulder injury. Severity still unknown.
Dylan Smith (Lions) Shoulder operation – 4 months
CJ Velleman (Kings) – Knee, looking to return early April.
Mzwanele Zito (Kings) – Concussion. Back any time.
Rudi Van Rooyen (Kings) – Ankle Surgery. Out for 12 weeks.
Uzair Cassiem (Cheetahs) – MCL round 2
Schalk Ferreira (Kings) -Torn Biceps – had an operation, out for 12-16weeks from Rd 6.
Jaco Van Der Walt (Lions) – dislocated foot, 8 weeks.
Huw Jones (Stomers) – torn hamstring, to undergo surgery.
Rynhardt Elstadt (Stormers) – complete syndesmosis, to undergo surgery and will be out for 3 months.
Wilco Louw (Stormers) – sternum injury. To return to training this week.
Seabelo Senatla (Stormers) – Foot. Out for 4-6 weeks.
John-Roy Jenkinson (Bulls) – grade 2 hamstring injury. To miss at least 1 more week.

ARGENTINA/JAPAN
Thomas Lavanini (Jaguares) – ACL reconstruction – expected back 9 months post op (June), although their medical team was targeting March (Take what the Jaguares medical staff say with a grain of salt!)
Juan Manuel Leguizamón (Jaguares) – Knee Ligament Damage. Hoping for a return any week now.
Manuel Montero (Jaguares) – Was expected to return in round 3, should be back any week.
Keita Inagaki (Sunwolves) – This man is a myth! I assume he is coming back from a shoulder injury but that is going off nothing more than his twitter account!

Out for the Season:

Martin Landajo (Jaguares) – Broken Fibula
Tomas Cubelli (Brumbies) – ACL
Brad Weber (Chiefs) – Broken Leg out for 6 months
Mitchell Graham (Chiefs) – Broken Leg
Leolin Zas (Stormers) – Broken Leg
Lausii Tauilali (Brumbies) – ACL
Christian Lealifano (Brumbies) – Leukemia
Howard Minsi (Lions) – ACL
James Broadhurst (Hurricanes) – Concussion ongoing
James Slipper (Reds) – Torn Achillies

New- Ryan Louwrens (Western Force) – Ruptured ACL

Have we missed something? Drop a comment and let us know.

Written by Nelson Dale