The opening round of the provincial rugby tournament sees several All Blacks returning to their domestic teams this week.
eden Park will host the season opener between Auckland and Waikato on Thursday,with Anton Lienert-Brown expected to feature.
Wellington will have Ruben Love available when they face Canterbury,who will be bolstered by Brodie McAlister,in Porirua on Saturday. On the same day, Christian Lio-Willie could be in contention for Otago’s match against Southland in Invercargill.
Sunday’s fixtures will see Emoni Narawa and Pasilio Tosi representing Bay of Plenty, timoci Tavatavanawai playing for Tasman, and Dalton Papali’i in action for Counties Manukau.
While the return of these players is a boost for provincial rugby, the All Blacks’ injury list is growing ahead of the rugby Championship series against Argentina.
Scrum-half Noah Hotham is the latest player to be sidelined, requiring surgery for a high ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out for up to eight weeks.
Hotham joins a growing number of players currently recovering from injuries. Caleb Clarke also sustained a high ankle sprain, though it did not require surgery, and he is anticipated to be available within six weeks.
Tyrel lomax is recuperating from surgery on a fractured hand, and Luke Jacobson is dealing with a thigh injury.
Scott Barrett, Wallace Sititi, and Tamaiti Williams are all making good progress from their respective injuries and are targeting a return within the next three weeks.
Beauden Barrett is recovering well from a minor re-fracture of his hand and is expected to be available in a fortnight. Tupou Vaa’i remains under concussion protocols, with a similar timeline for his return.
