Dalton Papali'i ‘bullish’ for Blues swansong despite needing surgery for broken jaw
Thursday, 14 May 2026
The Blues aren’t ruling out a swansong for Dalton Papali'i despite him needing surgery for a broken jaw.
Blues coach Vern Cotter said the 37-test All Blacks loose forward was “bullish” about a rapid recovery, with the aim of returning to play should his team make the semifinals or final of Super Rugby Pacific.
The 28-year-old will have surgery for his fractured jaw next Tuesday, which he sustained when tackling the Crusaders’ rampaging openside flanker, Leicester Faingaʻanuku.
Cotter was also cautious about Papali'i’s prospects of a comeback before he departs to join French club Castres Olympique.
It would be fewer than four weeks from his surgery to the weekend of the semifinals in June, a tight window given the pain and discomfort jaw injuries can cause.
The Blues have to get there, too, or Papali'i has played his final match for his hometown team.
“He loves playing, he loves this team,” Cotter said on Thursday.
“He’ll be tapping me on the shoulder a week after surgery, saying ‘I’m ready to play’. That might be a bit soon.”
Papali'i has been at Blues training this week, albeit in a reduced capacity because of the severity of his injury. Broken jaws often require titanium plates or screws to aid the healing.
The thought of playing such a brutal, physical contact game, something Papali'i thrives on, would make most wince. Professional rugby players are wired differently, however.
Even though eating will become a chore in the weeks ahead, the Blues’ centurion will be desperate to help his team-mates in their quest for another title in Cotter’s final season.
The openside flanker has been a huge figure for the Blues since his debut in 2018, skippering them in Patrick Tuipulotu’s absence, and was at the heart of their title success in Cotter’s first campaign in 2024.
That victory was inspired by Tuipulotu shaking off a knee injury that appeared to have ended the All Blacks lock’s season, but he was man of the match in the final. The Blues will hope Papali’i can replicate similar heroics in the final rounds.
Cotter said: “He’s the blood and guts man. ‘Don’t draw me too many diagrams or spend too much time on the computer, just give me the ball or someone to tackle’. That’s what you need.
“You need warriors in your team, but other guys can step up now. Che Clark, Torian Barnes and Malachi [Wrampling] have got that in them as well.
“We feel for Dalts, if it’s his last game for the Blues.”
Papali'i dipped low with a brave tackle to bring down Faingaʻanuku in the second minute of the Blues’ 36-20 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch last Friday night.
However, he came off second best in a collision that made the sellout crowd in the One New Zealand Stadium gasp. Papali'i played on for another 10 minutes but had to leave the field.
Cotter said they suffered for losing Papali'i. The Blues were bettered physically by the defending champions and couldn’t capitalise when the hosts were down to 13 men in the second half.
He was replaced by Anton Segner, whose had a strong season and takes the No 7 jersey in Papali’i’s absence for Saturday night’s clash with the Hurricanes at Eden Park.
“I hope for the best for him,” Segner said.
“I hope we see him in a Blues jersey once more.”
The Blues were third before this weekend’s fixtures (8-4 record). They would effectively seal a top-three finish — and a home match in the first round of next month’s playoffs — if they beat the competition leaders.
Cotter’s team were six points ahead of the Crusaders in fourth, with both having two matches to play.
Blues v Hurricanes — Super Rugby Pacific, round 14
Blues: Zarn Sullivan, AJ Lam, Xavi Taele, Pita Ahki, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Sam Nock, Hoskins Sotutu, Anton Segner, Malachi Wrampling, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu, Marcel Renata, Bradley Slater, Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Mason Tupaea, Flyn Yates, Laghlan McWhannell, Torian Barnes, Che Clark, Finlay Christie, Stephen Perofeta.
Hurricanes: Callum Harkin, Fehi Fineanganofo, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett (capt), Kini Naholo, Ruben Love, Ere Enari, Devan Flanders, Peter Lakai, Brad Shields, Warner Dearns, Caleb Delany, Pasilio Tosi, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Raymond Tuputupu, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Siale Lauaki, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brayden Iose, Jordi Viljoen, Jone Rova, Bailyn Sullivan.