Back 
1
Highlanders suffer midfield blow as centre Tomkinson to undergo surgery
By Sam Smith
The Highlanders have announced that outside back Patelesio Tomkinson will miss the entire 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season after succumbing to injury suffered in the NPC.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 25-year-old local product injured his left foot while playing for Otago during the Bunnings NPC Championship Final against Taranaki two weeks ago, which requires season-ending surgery.
Tomkinson will join explosive wing Jona Nareki on the sidelines in 2022 as the Highlanders look to continue to build under Tony Brown, who returned to the club in 2020 as an attack coach and now enters his second year as head coach.
The former New Zealand age grade star has made 31 appearances for the Highlanders since debuting in 2017, playing across the backline in both midfield positions and on the wing without settling on one position.
His injury opens the door for the Highlanders young stable of backs to step up into the midfield. Former Crusader Fetuli Paea has made the move down south, along with second year prospect Ngatungane Punivai.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen, who has spent significant time on the sidelines since his debut since 2020 also shapes as another candidate along with Scott Gregory, who featured in the midfield this season after debuting on the wing last year.
2022 Super Rugby Pacific Highlanders Squad
ADVERTISEMENT
Props: Ayden Johnstone, Ethan De Groot, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jermaine Ainsley, Jeff Thwaites, Josh Hohneck, Saula Mau
Hookers: Liam Coltman, Andrew Makalio, Rhys Marshall
Locks: Josh Dickson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Bryn Evans, Sam Caird
Loosies: Shannon Frizell, Gareth Evans, James Lentjes, Billy Harmon, Sean Withy, Max Hicks, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Hugh Renton
ADVERTISEMENT
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Folau Fakatava, Kayne Hammington
First fives: Mitch Hunt, Marty Banks
Midfield: Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Ngatungane Punivai, Scott Gregory, Fetuli Paea
Outside backs: Mosese Dawai, Vilimoni Koroi, Josh Timu, Sam Gilbert, Connor Garden-Bachop, Solomon Alaimalo
Unavailable due to injury: Paripari Parkinson, Jona Nareki, Patelesio Tomkinson
Comments
Join free and tell us what you really think!
Join Free
Latest Comments
Have people seriously run out of thinks to be outraged about?! I
Go to commentsFully agree but would go further. The RFU Council needs a fundamental overhaul. The incompetence on display over recent years is staggering. One simple question I have is who is in charge of PR and Media Relations? These people are allowing the sport to be led by the nose by those who hate the fact rugby is a physical (and therefore has an associated risk). This constant handwringing about the risks of the game mean the main takeaway for potential future players is almost entirely negative. They even thought announcing a fundamental and surprise law change with the obvious ramifications JUST BEFORE THE 6 NATIONS was a good idea!!!
Go to comments