The All Blacks have been dealt a major blow ahead of the France Test series.
Loose forward Wallace Sititi was on Thursday ruled out due to an ankle injury that requires surgery, having already missed most of the Super Rugby Pacific season due to a knee injury sustained on last year’s end-of-year tour.
The 22-year-old, World Rugby’s breakthrough player of 2024, was one of five loose forwards named in the All Blacks’ 33-man squad on Monday.
According to NZ Rugby, a further medical assessment will be made in three weeks to determine Sititi’s likely return, but ankle surgery typically means up to six months on the sidelines.
Crusaders No 8 Christian Lio-Willie has been called up as cover.
The All Blacks open their three-Test series against an understrength France in Dunedin on 5 July.
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Update from camp 🙏🏼
Christian Lio-Willie moves into the squad for Wallace Sititi & Dalton Papali’i comes into the squad as cover for Luke Jacobson.
Wishing our mate Wallace a speedy recovery ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/a9yM7no4AU
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 26, 2025
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images