The All Blacks have been hit by another major injury blow, with Caleb Clarke ruled out for around five months.
The powerhouse winger has undergone surgery after suffering a ruptured shoulder tendon, meaning his 2026 Test season is effectively over.
Clarke picked up the injury during New Zealand’s 54-0 win against the Sharks in Durban.
The 27-year-old was then forced to head home before the four-Test series against the Springboks had even started.
New Zealand Rugby has now confirmed Clarke faces around five months on the sidelines as he begins his recovery.
It means he will miss the Bledisloe Cup clashes with Australia as well as the All Blacks’ end-of-year campaign.
New Zealand are set to face Scotland, Wales and England in November before finishing their Nations Championship campaign at Twickenham.
All Blacks injury problems mount
Clarke isn't the only big name facing time out.
Ardie Savea has also undergone surgery after suffering a shoulder injury against South Africa.
There is currently no confirmed return date for the All Blacks captain.
Loose forward Luke Jacobson is another long-term absentee after undergoing surgery on an elbow tendon injury.
He is expected to be out for between four and five months.
Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Cortez Ratima and Ollie Norris have also been dealing with injuries during a brutal period for New Zealand.
Clarke could now be back around February 2027, depending on his recovery.
That would give him time to get back up to speed before attention turns towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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Five things you might not know about Caleb Clarke
1. Rugby is very much in the family
Clarke is the son of former All Black Eroni Clarke, who represented New Zealand during the 1990s.
The sporting connections don't stop there. His grandfather, Iafeta Clarke, represented Samoa, while his aunt Sheryl Scanlan played international netball.
The All Blacks' official profile describes Clarke as the son of the former New Zealand international.
2. He grew up in Japan
Despite being born in Auckland, Clarke spent part of his childhood living in Japan.
He moved there when he was three while his father played professional rugby for Ricoh Black Rams and stayed until he was seven.
Clarke later told RugbyJP that he mainly remembers playing football in the streets and watching his dad play rugby.
3. He was a sprint champion at school
That explosive pace didn't suddenly appear when Clarke reached professional rugby.
While at Mount Albert Grammar School, he was an Auckland schools sprint champion.
His Blues profile also notes that he starred for the school's First XV before making the jump into senior rugby.
4. He chased an Olympic dream
Clarke temporarily stepped away from Super Rugby to chase a place with the All Blacks Sevens ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
He had already represented New Zealand on the World Sevens Series and was part of the wider Olympic programme before returning his focus to the 15-a-side game.
5. He scored six tries at an U20 World Championship
Clarke was already making a serious name for himself before becoming an All Black.
He scored six tries as New Zealand won the 2017 World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia, including a hat-trick against Ireland.
His former school, Mount Albert Grammar, celebrated his role after New Zealand thrashed England 64-17 in the final.
