The Hurricanes are set to receive a shot in the arm ahead of the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season after it was revealed that Asafo Aumua is set to make his long-awaited return to action.
Aumua’s career has been hampered by a plethora of injuries which included numerous head knocks as well as elbow, foot, hamstring, ankle and knee issues.
The 28-year-old missed out on the All Blacks‘ 2025 Grand Slam tour as he was working through concussion protocols.
Ready for action
However, Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw confirmed that Aumua is set to feature in next weekend’s final pre-season encounter with the Chiefs in Porirua.
Aumua, who has made 20 Test appearances for New Zealand since making his debut against Australia in 2020, has been working hard in pre-season training since December.
This, after sustaining a hamstring injury and concussion last year resulted in him failing to make any Test appearances for the All Blacks in 2025.
In 2024, Aumua played in all 14 of New Zealand’s Tests.
The Hurricanes sealed a 44-36 victory over the Blues in a pre-season clash in Auckland on Friday.
Apart from Aumua, they also have Vernon Bason, Jacob Devery and Raymond Tuputupu on their books as options at hooker for their upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Laidlaw is excited to have Aumua available for selection and is looking forward to the All Blacks star’s comeback after his lengthy lay-off.
‘He’s unreal’
“He’s good to go, he’s unreal,” Laidlaw told Stuff. “We’ve got four hookers in our squad and probably need to work out who’s number two or three [behind Aumua].
“All of those boys have got different attributes.”
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are sweating over the fitness of experienced back-row and former England international Brad Shields.
The Hurricanes have a bye during Super Rugby Pacific’s opening round before hosting Moana Pasifika in Wellington on Friday, February 20 and Shields is doubtful for that clash after revealing the full extent of his suspected broken finger, sustained in Friday’s pre-season win over the Blues.
Shields took to Instagram to share an X-ray which showed that the tip of the middle finger on his left hand was almost completely broken off.
“Damn not the tip,” Shields said in his post on Friday.
The 34-year-old was in a lot of pain as he stayed down following a ruck in the second half of that clash with the Blues and was eventually forced off the field.
The Hurricanes are expected to provide an update on the full extent of Shields’ injury during the upcoming week.
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