Ruben Love to miss rest of year after ankle surgery

The All Blacks say Ruben Love will undergo surgery for an ankle ligament injury and miss the remainder of 2026, ruling the flyhalf out of the team’s remaining international matches this year. The team’s statement did not give a recovery timetable. Love is set to miss the Bledisloe Cup Tests against Australia and the end-of-year Nations Championship matches, according to reports on the team’s plans. His injury has also changed the All Blacks’ options at flyhalf, or No. 10, for the Australia series. The All Blacks have named Richie Mounga and Josh Jacomb as flyhalf options in the squad. Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie are also possible choices for the position, according to reports. The sources do not establish whether the team has settled on a replacement for Love. Love, a Hurricanes player, started six All Blacks Tests in 2026, according to one report, and was described in reports as a regular choice at No. 10. He also helped the Hurricanes win the Super Rugby Pacific title this year. His absence ends a season in which he had become an important option for New Zealand, though the team statement did not specify when the ankle injury occurred.