All Blacks Captain Savea To Miss Rest Of 2026 After Surgery

All Blacks captain Ardie Savea will undergo surgery for a dislocated shoulder and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 international season, including the Bledisloe Cup and Nations Championship. New Zealand Rugby confirmed the update on Monday, September 21, stating that a specific return-to-play timeline will be determined after the operation. Savea sustained the injury during the first half of the All Blacks' 29-24 defeat to South Africa in the third Test in Soweto earlier this month. He returned home early and missed the series finale in Baltimore, which the All Blacks lost 31. The typical recovery period for such surgery is four to six months, making his participation in the November Nations Championship games against Scotland, Wales, and England highly unlikely. The captain's absence compounds a significant injury list for the All Blacks. Loose forward Luke Jacobson has undergone surgery for an elbow tendon injury and is expected to be sidelined for four to five months. Winger Caleb Clarke is also set to miss approximately five months with a ruptured shoulder tendon. Further concerns exist in the backline.