All Blacks star in Super Rugby Pacific blow after TWO-MONTH wait for surgery

All Blacks back-row Wallace Sititi and Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan.
All Blacks youngster Wallace Sititi, who rose to the top of the game in 2024, is set to miss at least part of the Super Rugby Pacific season due to surgery on a knee injury.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a remarkable campaign last year, firstly impressing for the Chiefs before being called up by new All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson.
Sititi had to wait for his chance but, after making his Test debut midway through the Rugby Championship, the skilful forward never looked back.
However, he suffered a knee issue on their northern hemisphere tour, which requires him to go under the knife.
Sititi’s operation on Friday
The number eight, who can also feature at flanker, will undergo the operation on Friday – nigh on two months after he started in the All Blacks’ victory over Italy – and will miss a part of the upcoming season.
According to Chiefs boss Clayton McMillan, there was a delay with the surgery because “he just hasn’t the surgeons available to be able to operate”, while the head coach was also unable to confirm exactly when the problem arose.
“I couldn’t tell you, to be honest. He hasn’t been in our environment, so we just know it happened on the end-of-year tour, but he’s able to walk around,” he told reporters.
“It’s one of those little niggles, I guess, that you never really truly know the extent of until you get under the surgeon knife, and they can give some clarity to that.”
McMillan was also unable to clarify any sort of timeframe for recovery, inevitably raising fears that he could well be out for the majority of the Chiefs’ campaign.
“I guess the fact that he’s got to have surgery gives you an indication that it’s reasonably serious, but we don’t know how serious at this stage,” the head coach said.
Remarkable rise
Sititi only made his Super Rugby bow in 2024 but by the end of the year he was picking up the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award.
He has quickly established himself as a focal point for both club and country, with McMillan admitting that his absence will be a significant blow for the Chiefs.
They are looking to go one better in 2025 after losing the Super Rugby Pacific final to the Blues.
“Everyone’s seen how he’s played over the last 12 months, and it’s never nice to lose players of that calibre,” McMillan added.
“Every team is never immune to injury, but you go deep in the competition through the strength of your squad, not individuals, and while we’ll miss him, we have a lot of other very good rugby players that will step up.
“He generates a lot of excitement through his ability. We’ll miss him.
“All we can do is just jump in behind the young man and help with his rehab, however long that takes, and get him back out on the field as quickly as possible.”