Wallabies captain Harry Wilson set to miss start of Super Rugby season

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson will miss the opening rounds of Super Rugby Pacific following a minor knee surgery on Friday.

The arthroscopic surgery was deemed the best course of action after the injury Wilson sustained in round one of the 2025 Rugby Championship against the Springboks. The operation was a clean-up job and comes with an estimated six-week recovery timeline.

The Queensland Reds’ first game of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season is now four weeks away, with a trip to Sydney to face the Waratahs the first port of call. A well-timed bye awaits the team in round two.

The decision to operate on the 2025 World Rugby Dream Team selectee was made by both Rugby Australia and the Queensland Reds.

“It’s great news that the surgery has gone well,” said Reds head coach Les Kiss.

“The opportunity now is for our other Reds backrowers to step up and show their wares.

“Joe Brial did so in 2025 with some big performances.

“John Bryant is back with us after his secondment to Benetton Rugby in Treviso gave him the benefit of strong game and training time in Europe in the URC competition before Christmas. That shows the benefit of fostering these partnerships with other clubs.

“Younger backrowers Vaiuta Latu and Tom Robinson made excellent impressions in the Queensland jersey for the first time post-Super Rugby last year when games against Tonga, Japan’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and the teams in Super Rugby AUS were underway.”