Latest news with #Sititi
1News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- 1News
All Blacks suffer Wallace Sititi injury blow ahead of France series
All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi is out of the three-Test series against France due to an ankle injury. Sititi, 22, was last year's World Rugby's Breakthrough Player of the Year but played a limited part in the Chiefs' Super Rugby Pacific campaign this season as he recovered from a knee injury he suffered on the All Blacks' 2024 end of year Northern Hemisphere tour. Coach Scott Robertson has called in Crusaders No.8 Christian Lio-Willie as Sititi's replacement. A statement from New Zealand Rugby said Sititi "was seen by a surgeon last night regarding a high ankle injury and it has been determined that he will require surgery... a further medical assessment will be made in three weeks to determine his likely return to play." Lio-Willie was already with the squad as injury cover for Chiefs loose forward Luke Jacobson. ADVERTISEMENT Blues loose forward Dalton Papali'i has now been called in to replace Lio-Willie as that injury cover. No.8 Sititi was almost certain to start the first Test in Dunedin a week on Saturday and the selectors now have a big decision to make. Lio-Willie is a like-for-like replacement and could be a straight swap, with fellow newcomer Du'Plessis Kirifi adding impact from the bench. On the other hand, the selectors could opt to start Kirifi at openside flanker, with Ardie Savea starting at No.8, Samipeni Finau at blindside flanker and Lio-Willie on the bench. The All Blacks' team will be announced next Thursday.
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Sititi signs New Zealand Rugby deal through next World Cup
May 20 (Reuters) - All Blacks number eight Wallace Sititi, who was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2024, has signed a contract extension through to the end of the 2027 World Cup. The powerful 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout debut season with the Waikato Chiefs in Super Rugby last year before making his test debut off the bench against Fiji in San Diego in July. "Wallace has made a great start to his professional career," New Zealand Rugby's Chris Lendrum said in a news release. "To receive the 2024 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award was recognition of Wallace's athletic prowess, but also his dedication to constant improvement. "We're looking forward to a continuation of his growth over the next two years." The All Blacks have struggled to find a like-for-like replacement for Kieran Read in the number eight jersey since the former skipper retired after the 2019 World Cup, with many considering incumbent Ardie Savea more naturally a flanker. The re-signing is also a big boost for the Chiefs, who set the pace in Super Rugby Pacific this season and welcomed back Sititi from injury a couple of weeks ago for the run-in to the playoffs. "The Chiefs took my family in with open arms and welcomed us right from the start. We really feel at home here. I know my parents and my family enjoy being part of the team culture just as much as I do," Sititi said. "I love playing for the Chiefs. Their style of play suits me. There is still a lot of room for me to grow and develop as a player and I think the best place for me to do is here in New Zealand with the Chiefs."
CNA
20-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Sititi signs New Zealand Rugby deal through next World Cup
All Blacks number eight Wallace Sititi, who was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2024, has signed a contract extension through to the end of the 2027 World Cup. The powerful 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout debut season with the Waikato Chiefs in Super Rugby last year before making his test debut off the bench against Fiji in San Diego in July. "Wallace has made a great start to his professional career," New Zealand Rugby's Chris Lendrum said in a news release. "To receive the 2024 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award was recognition of Wallace's athletic prowess, but also his dedication to constant improvement. "We're looking forward to a continuation of his growth over the next two years." The All Blacks have struggled to find a like-for-like replacement for Kieran Read in the number eight jersey since the former skipper retired after the 2019 World Cup, with many considering incumbent Ardie Savea more naturally a flanker. The re-signing is also a big boost for the Chiefs, who set the pace in Super Rugby Pacific this season and welcomed back Sititi from injury a couple of weeks ago for the run-in to the playoffs. "The Chiefs took my family in with open arms and welcomed us right from the start. We really feel at home here. I know my parents and my family enjoy being part of the team culture just as much as I do," Sititi said. "I love playing for the Chiefs. Their style of play suits me. There is still a lot of room for me to grow and develop as a player and I think the best place for me to do is here in New Zealand with the Chiefs."
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Black Wallace Sititi re-signs with Chiefs and NZ Rugby until 2027
World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Wallace Sititi has committed for another two years with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs, signing a new contract until the end of 2027. Considered one of the most exciting young players in world rugby, Sititi made his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Chiefs last year and earned an All Blacks call-up a few months later before making his debut against Fiji in San Diego. He became a key part of the All Blacks squad in 2024, starting the final seven tests of the season. Last November, he was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year and All Blacks Player of the Year before missing the start of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a knee injury. He returned to action last month as the Chiefs prepare for a title run in the Super Rugby playoffs.
