Scott Barrett ruled out of South Africa tour in new injury blow for the All Blacks
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
All Blacks lock Scott Barrett will be sidelined for three-to-five months and will undergo back surgery.
Barrett, 32, missed the first part of Super Rugby Pacific as he took advantage of a non-playing sabbatical clause in his New Zealand Rugby contract, but he has failed to return to the field after an injury related to his back flared up.
There had been speculation the injury would rule Barrett out of rugby for the whole year, but the Crusaders confirmed on Wednesday that the lock had been ruled out for up to five months. Crusaders head coach Rob Penney said Barrett would undergo back surgery later this week.
The injury will rule him out of the All Blacks tour to South Africa in August-September and it is looking highly doubtful he will play any rugby in 2026.
Barrett joins a growing All Blacks injury list that also includes Tamaiti Williams, Will Jordan, and Fabian Holland.
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“He’s tried every non-evasive trick you could do to get right and it just hasn’t come off. He’ll be in the operating theatre by the end of the week,” Penney said on Wednesday.
His injury also means All Blacks coach Dave Rennie will name a new national captain for the first part of the year at least.
Barrett has been troubled by injury for the best part of two years.
He played just five times for the Crusaders during their ill-fated 2024 season and while he played a full part in the 2025 Super Rugby campaign, injury struck again during the All Blacks’ three-test series against France last July.
“For him personally he was in great shape. He’d had a great break and he’d come back very excited. He’s still contributing as he does really meaningfully behind the scenes, but he’s as frustrated as all of us are for him,” Penney said….
“Ultimately, he’s just got to get himself right.”
Barrett was replaced in the second half of the first test against France in Dunedin last July and missed the subsequent two tests in Wellington and Hamilton.
As All Blacks captain Barrett battled through the remainder of the test season, The Press has been told he was operating well under capacity, which explains his form struggles.
Barrett was the best lock in New Zealand in 2023, and one of the best locks in the world, but hasn’t reached those heights since the last Rugby World Cup.
Barrett’s abrasive style and experience will be badly missed by the All Blacks in South Africa.
Barrett’s injury woes could also encourage Rennie to redouble his efforts to get Brodie Retallick back into the All Blacks for the Rugby World Cup in Australia next year.
Retallick has repeatedly stated that his days in test rugby are over, but Rennie has indicated he won’t give up trying to persuade the All Blacks centurion to come back for one last job.
Barrett’s injury is also a blow for the Crusaders, who confirmed on Tuesday star fullback Jordan will miss the next four-to-six weeks.
All Blacks prop Williams revealed in March that he had been admitted to hospital due to a “serious infection” in his back and had been ruled out of Super Rugby Pacific.
It is unknown when Williams might return to rugby.