Former All Blacks back-rower Dalton Papali\u2019i has suffered a disastrous start to his new club adventure in France, with reports emerging that he has suffered a season-ruining Achilles injury.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old won the last of his 37 Test caps in July 2025 versus France in Hamilton. A subsequent falling-out with then-New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson led the forward to accept an offer to join Castres Olympique.<\/p>\n
Papali\u2019i finished up his time at the Blues last month, missing the Auckland-based franchise\u2019s Super Rugby Pacific semi-final loss to the Hurricanes with a jaw problem. However, his injury profile has considerably worsened during his first week training with his new French club.<\/p>\n
With Castres\u2019 2025\/26 Top 14<\/a> campaign ending on June 6, they returned for pre-season training on Monday, and their preparations for the new campaign have already suffered a disastrous blow with Papali\u2019i pulling up lame on Tuesday \u2013 the club\u2019s bronco day.<\/p>\n \u201cOff to a very bad start\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Taking part in a session that was said to be held in intense heat, the New Zealander was believed to have ruptured his Achilles. Tests are scheduled for Wednesday to confirm the extent of the injury, but it is feared that Papali\u2019i will require an operation followed by a long period of rehabilitation.<\/p>\n A report on rugbyrama.fr<\/a> read: \u201cWhile the Castres Olympique players underwent the traditional bronco test on Tuesday, Dalton Papali\u2019i suffered a serious injury. The New Zealand international is believed to have ruptured his Achilles tendon. His season is already over.<\/p>\n \u201cCastres\u2019 pre-season is off to a very bad start. While players and staff met on Monday to kick off the 2026\/27 season, the infamous bronco test was on the agenda for Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cThis traditional exercise is used to assess the participants\u2019 physical condition. Unfortunately, an event has cast a shadow over the situation. Papali\u2019i, Castres\u2019 star signing, has reportedly suffered a serious injury.<\/p>\n \u201cThe diagnosis for the 37-cap All Black<\/a> is said to be definitive: a ruptured Achilles tendon. While further tests are still needed to confirm the diagnosis, pessimism reigns in the Tarn region.<\/p>\n NZ Rugby\u2019s \u2018deliberate\u2019 decision over All Blacks jersey logo amid Nations Championship confusion<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAs a result, the former Blues player will almost certainly require surgery and then embark on a long period of rehabilitation. For this type of injury, the expected recovery time is around nine months, or even longer. The flanker\u2019s season is already in jeopardy.\u201d<\/p>\n Papali\u2019i was considered one of the best-ever signings that Castres had made, but he now faces missing most or all of the upcoming 2026\/27 campaign.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as\u00a0a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a>\u00a0for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n It was last February, at the start of the 2026 Super Rugby season, when the French club confirmed the New Zealander would be joining them on a three-year deal. Speaking about the move, he said: \u201cI\u2019ve reached the maturity necessary to have such an experience<\/a>, to adapt to a different style of rugby and embark on a new adventure while contributing fully to the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI know the club\u2019s history; I know that several All Blacks have preceded me at Castres, such as Kees Meeuws, Carl Hoeft, Chris Masoe and, more recently, Jack Goodhue and Gary Whetton, with whom I\u2019ve had a long conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a city passionate about its club and offers a family-oriented environment. It\u2019s also a club that loves taking on challenges. All of that suits me.\u201d<\/p>\n