Chiefs lose All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown for rest of Super Rugby campaign

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

Anton Lienert-Brown posted a photo of his x-ray.

The Chiefs have lost All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown for the remainder of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

Lienert-Brown, in a social media post, confirmed he broke his collarbone during last week’s demolition job of the Force at Mt Maunganui.

The 30-year-old, who had only just returned from a month out with a leg injury, was off at halftime of the match, and sporting a sling after the fixture.

“Footy doesn’t always love you back, such is life. Surgery & then a speedy recovery on way,” Lienert-Brown wrote.

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett, prop Tamaiti Williams and halfback Cam Roigard were among national side team-mates to offer words of support.

Lienert-Brown is the second midfielder the Chiefs have lost for the season, after Rameka Poihipi hurt his knee in round two against the Crusaders.

The good news is they went into the season with a ton of depth, highlighted by Quinn Tupaea. Daniel Rona and Gideon Wrampling are also on the roster.

Several Super Rugby rookies are standing out this season, thanks to their background in the All Blacks Sevens programme. Their speed, skills, and experience are giving them an edge as they make the transition to fifteens.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs are set to give Damian McKenzie another week to recover from his hand injury, meaning he will miss this weekend’s match against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

“He can catch a ball and he could probably go out there, but this close to the finals we’re probably better off to take the precautionary route,” McMillan told the Waikato Times on Sunday.

McKenzie is likely to return for his team’s top-of-the-table clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday week.