How All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua’s Hurricanes mates helped him through concussions challenge

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Asafo Aumua (R) with Hurricanes teammates Xavier Numia and Du’Plessis Kirifi, who were great support to him during his recovery from concussions in 2025.

What: Nations Championship, All Blacks v France. Where: One NZ Stadium, Christchurch. When: 7.10pm Saturday, Sky Sport 1.

All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua has hailed new cap Xavier Numia - “who’s like an uncle to my kids” - for helping him through a harrowing recovery from a series of concussions.

The Wellington pair have been mates for years and are room-mates with the Hurricanes and now the All Blacks. “He’s used to my snoring,” Aumua quipped.

Numia was among the “backbone’’, including Aumua’s wife and Hurricanes medics, who the 20-test rake drew on in a challenging 2025 season.

Now he’s delighted that Numia could potentially be set for his own test debut.

Aumua spoke on Monday about being grateful to be back for the Nations Championship opener against France in Christchurch on Saturday and his delight about Numia rooming with him.

The 29-year-old first toured with the All Blacks in 2017, debuted in 2020 and had five tests in 2021. But he had to wait another three seasons for his next cap with Dane Coles, Codie Taylor and Samisoni Taukei’aho ahead of him in the pecking order.

But Aumua had a breakout season in 2024, playing all 14 tests, including strong performances on the European tour.

Then 2025 proved a write-off.

He had ankle, hamstring, knee and elbow niggles and several concussions, which proved the most worrying.

“It was quite frustrating, especially the last one,’’ Aumua said.

“I took a few head knocks in this last game [for Wellington in the NPC] and that hung around a while.

“So I decided to put myself out of rugby and take a break to get the head right,’’ he said, describing the call as the best decision he’s made for his family.

Aumua said he did have doubts when he “still had symptoms that were bugging me a bit” about whether he would get back to play.

He admitted it was hard when he was on his own, and the headaches persisted, not to feel a “a bit more tension”.

But Aumua drew great strength from wife Elodie, the Hurricanes support staff and medical team and some mates checking up on him.

Asafo Aumua on the charge against the Blues.

“One of them is here right now, hopefully he gets a debut soon; Xavier [Numia],” he said, adding that Hurricanes co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi had also been great support.

Aumua, who played his last test against Italy in November 2024, said it was “awesome” for his whole family to see Numia selected for the All Blacks.

“My kids love him, he’s like an uncle to them. We’ve been playing together for a while now,’’ said Aumua, who confessed he “got a bit emotional - don’t tell him” - at Numia’s call-up.

Aumua consulted specialists “up and down the country’’ and was cleared late last year to play in 2026.

Aumua’s ball carrying was a highlight as a mobile Hurricanes pack and explosive backs paved the way for their first Super Rugby title since 2016.

But his work at the set piece also showed a noticeable uplift.

He felt his lineout throwing did improve, quipping it made a difference “having a Warner Dearns, a 3m lock to throw to”.

Forwards coach Jason Ryan said he “honestly believes [Aumua’s] best rugby is ahead of him for the All Blacks’’ - and the hooker 100% agrees.