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Dave Rennie opens up on All Blacks’ progress ahead of first SA Test
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Highlanders confirm the worst case for Caleb Tangitau's injury
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The Highlanders have confirmed the extent of All Black hopeful Caleb Tangitau’s leg injury suffered on the final play against the Chiefs on Friday night.
The 23-year-old has fully ruptured his left Achilles which will put the winger out for six-to-nine months with recovery.
The Highlanders official account wrote on social media: “Caleb has a full rupture of his left Achilles requiring surgery (6-9 months RTP)”
The devastating injury means he will miss the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season, the July period Nations Championship fixtures and the All Blacks tour of South Africa, which he was expected to be a part of with a debut.
In a best case scenario at the earliest, he would return to play in November during the All Blacks tour of Europe for the Nations Championship. Whether he would be ready for an international debut coming back at that time is very uncertain.
England’s centre Ollie Lawrence suffered a ruptured Achilles in the 2025 Six Nations in March, by September he was back playing pre-season games for Bath in the Premiership. However, his minutes were managed initially when the season started.
Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph feared the worst for Tangitau after the loss to the Chiefs but believed he would bounce back.
“It looks as though he’s ruptured his Achilles. That’s really disappointing for a him – a young winger coming in and playing really good rugby, coming in and scoring awesome tries,” Joseph said.
“He’s aspiring to become an All Black and play at the highest level.
“I guess he’s young, that’s on his side, and the surgeons these days are pretty good. He’ll be back.”
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