Hurricanes lose top try-scorer Kini Naholo to long-term knee injury

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Kini Naholo may have played his last game for Hurricanes.

Scans have revealed the in-form winger and team’s leading try-scorer ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during their last match, a stunning 35-17 win against the table topping Chiefs.

Naholo will play no further part in the Hurricanes season and it’s doubtful he will play for the team again as ACL injuries typically take between nine to 12 months to recover.

The 26-year-old Fijian is off contract at the end of the season and was rumoured to be heading offshore, to a club outside Super Rugby Pacific.

Kini Naholo receives medical attention after injuring his knee during the Hurricanes’ win over the Chiefs.

The former schoolboy sensation has scored eight tries in 10 appearances for the Hurricanes this season and was coming off a man of the match performance against the Brumbies.

The injury occurred inside the opening 10 minutes against the Chiefs.

Naholo’s knee buckled awkwardly as he pivoted to catch a short pass from Ruben Love from a scrum near halfway.

The ball landed in front of Naholo, who collapsed to the ground in agony.

Naholo’s replacement, Bailyn Sullivan, went on to score four second-half tries in a sensational individual performance.

Sullivan’s heroics should earn him a start when the Hurricanes play the Highlanders at Sky Stadium on Friday night.