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Highlanders confirm Fabian Holland will be sidelined until August

Fabian Holland of New Zealand looks on during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and South Africa Springboks at Sky Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Fabian Holland’s dislocated shoulder will not just sideline him for the entire 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, but it’s expected he’ll miss the July Test window, too.

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The towering lock will have surgery on the affected shoulder next week, with the team revealing an expected return timeline of August, in time for the All Blacks‘ Greatest Rivalry Tour of South Africa.

Holland suffered the injury when attempting a breakdown steal shortly after taking the field for his first preseason game of the year against Moana Pasifika in Queenstown.

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The lock’s injury is the second season-ending issue the Highlanders have suffered this preseason, with the widely anticipated rookie season of halfback Dylan Pledger delayed until 2027 due to a torn ACL.

The Highlanders have Tai Cribb, Mitch Dunshea, and Pumas enforcer Tomás Lavanini as their remaining second row options in 2026. Oliver Haig has primarily been used as a loose forward, but at 197 cm, covers lock, too. TK Howden was the Highlanders’ starting blindside flanker in 2025, but played lock for Jamie Joseph’s All Blacks XV on their European tour last November, later revealing it was his first time playing in the second row since high school. Josh Tengblad is an option from the club’s wider training group.

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9 Comments
G
GRB13 44 days ago

The Highlanders season is over before it began!

J
JW 44 days ago

Will be very interesting to see Tengblad get a run instead this season, although young and having been held back so far for his own development you have to see him now being the squads 3rd lock, and given that elevation, lots of gametime now that he’s going to be relied on to cover Holland.


They will still limit his involvement heavily but 2 or 3 starts and half a dozen bench roles is going to be a perfect introduction to Super for him, especially with someone like Lavinini to show him the way.

B
Blackmania 44 days ago

In his misfortune, he got injured in February. His season isn’t completely over. He could come back for the tour in South Africa.


It’s a position where New Zealand has depth (Barrett, Vaai, Lord, Ah Kuoi, Darry, Beerhe, Tuipulotu, Hannah…).


It shouldn’t be a problem for a few matches.

M
Mzilikazi 45 days ago

That is very sad news…for both the player and the Highlanders. Hope big Fabian recovers fully, he should have a great future ahead.

N
Nickers 45 days ago

Extremely not good situation. Ban all pre season games. This happens every year.

K
Karlos G 45 days ago

Now that Lavanini's playing in NZ, could he just fill in for Holland at the ABs🤣

J
JW 44 days ago

Surely they can take him on the Rivalry tour to just play with the ABXV!?!

G
GoTahs 45 days ago

That’s a real shame for Holland - and I suppose it will also mean the end of the Tupou Vaa'i at 6 experiment, at least in the short term. With Barret, Vaa’i and Tuipuloto likely to be the 3 locks for the July window.

K
Karlos G 45 days ago

Pretty sure you’ll have Josh Lord there too as will be a large squad taken for midweek games too, be an opportunity for those returning from injury to play those SA URC teams

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