All Blacks boosted ahead of Greatest Rivalry series as breakout star makes long-awaited return to action
Fabian Holland in action for the All Blacks (inset) and the Highlanders.
All Blacks second-row Fabian Holland has made his long-awaited return to action after recovering from a serious injury which ruled him out of action for five months.
Holland spent the entire Super Rugby Pacific campaign on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder during the Highlanders’ pre-season match against Moana Pasifika in Queenstown in February.
The 23-year-old made his comeback for National Provincial Championship (NPC) outfit Otago during a clash against Mid Canterbury, a Heartland side, at Molyneux Park in Alexandra on Friday.
Saw 40 minutes of action
The All Blacks star was in Otago’s starting line-up and completed 40 minutes as his team cruised to a dominant 78-14 triumph which was their first defence of the Ranfurly Shield in 2026.
Dutch-born Holland‘s return to action will be a boost for the All Blacks ahead of next month’s eagerly anticipated tour to South Africa.
Holland made his All Blacks debut last year and soon established himself in the three-time world champions’ first choice matchday squad as he eventually made 12 Test appearances which included 10 starts.
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World Rugby’s current Breakthrough Player of the Year
His impressive form at Test level was rewarded when he was crowned as 2025’s World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Earlier this month, All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie revealed that Holland will be in action for Otago during the early stages of their NPC campaign with the aim of proving his fitness for the South Africa tour before the squad is named.
“It will just be nice for him to get some game time in for Otago and then hopefully be available,” he said.
New Zealand will head out to South Africa in early August with the All Blacks taking on all four of the United Rugby Championship sides ahead of three clashes with the Springboks in Johannesburg (twice) and Cape Town, before Baltimore hosts the fourth and final Test on September 12.
The All Blacks will kick off their Greatest Rivalry tour with a match against the Stormers at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday, August 7.