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'Fingers crossed': Highlanders assistant provides brief Fabian Holland injury update
By Henry Lee
Highlanders assistant coach Clarke Dermody has given a short and brief update of Fabian Holland’s injury, after the World Rugby Men’s 15’s Breakthrough Player of the Year went off injured in their 41-31 pre-season victory over Moana Pasifika.
Holland went off injured during the first 10 minutes of his short stint in Queenstown, after coming off the bench in the second row.
The 12-Test All Black lock walked gingerly off the field, cradling his shoulder alongside the Highlanders medical staff at the Queenstown Events Centre on Friday afternoon.
Holland was seen attempting to clean out a ruck inside the Highlanders half, before coming out second best, collapsing to the ground in pain, holding his right arm.
Dermody, who was head coach of the Highlanders before Jamie Joseph returned, spoke to Jason Pine on Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Sport radio show on Sunday afternoon about Holland’s current status.
“Well he’s injured his shoulder, I don’t really know the extent of it yet, obviously it’s only Sunday at the moment, so he’s going to get checked out tomorrow,” Dermody told Newstalk ZB.
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“And, you know, fingers crossed it’s not as bad as what it looked.”
With the Highlanders’ first game of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season being an important, south-island derby against the Crusaders in Dunedin, the Highlanders coaches will be waiting nervously ahead of the official diagnosis.
When asked about Holland’s chances of being fit for round one in Dunedin next Friday night, Dermody admits he’s not sure, but he, of course, would love the services of the Dutch-born All Black.
“I’d love him to be, he’s obviously a huge influential player for us, but probably a bit early to say.”
Even with Holland in doubt, Joseph and his coaching staff will be happy with the output from his backs in the pre-season contest against Tana Umaga’s Moana Pasifika, with their exciting young outside-backs showing some fine form.
Taranaki fullback Jacob Ratamatavuki-Kneepkens crossed for a quickfire double during the first half, after All Blacks XV winger and former SVNS speedster Caleb Tangitau opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
The 24-year-old fullback, who had two in the first half, finished off his impressive afternoon in Queenstown with a try in the 62nd minute, completing his pre-season hat-trick.
Joseph and his coaching staff will be pleased with the way their team closed out the 2026 pre-season, after a disappointing afternoon in Timaru the week prior, where they went down 33-10 to their round one opponents, the Crusaders.
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