Brumbies dealt hammer blow as experienced Wallabies star to miss start of Super Rugby Pacific season
Allan Alaalatoa in action for the Wallabies (inset) and Brumbies.
The Brumbies have confirmed that Allan Alaalatoa will miss the start of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season as he continues his rehabilitation from a back injury.
The injury is an ongoing issue which the experienced Wallabies front-row and Brumbies skipper has been battling with over the past six months.
The Brumbies will kick off their Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday, February 14.
After consultation with the Brumbies’ and Rugby Australia’s medical staff and specialists, it has been agreed that Alaalatoa‘s back issue requires ongoing rehabilitation.
Big blow for the Brumbies
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham admitted that being without Alaalatoa’s services will be a setback for the Canberra-based outfit.
“It’s disappointing Allan won’t be available for the start of the season, but it also provides an opportunity for the other props in our program to step up and perform for the Brumbies,” he said.
“We know Allan will continue to provide his leadership and experience to the group to help them prepare.
“He is the ultimate professional and will be doing everything he can to be back on the field as soon as possible.”
Alaalatoa revealed that he is unsure when he will return to action as doctors are trying to identify the root cause of his ongoing injury.
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“It’s something that I probably carried throughout the back end of last year and had to get some professional advice over the break and got a couple of scans,” he told reporters.
‘I want to come back into employment 100%’
“The advice was just to take some time and make sure that it heals appropriately because I want to come back into employment 100% and try to contribute the best way I can.
“I think what the scans were telling me was just the 13th year of playing footy at tighthead prop, so there’s a bit going on in there. I guess that’s why the professional advice was that it just needs time to heal.
“There are a number of things going on there. They couldn’t put their finger on one thing. Again, it was just from the position that I played over the course of my career.
“They’re trying to stay away from targeting around and probably just going off the field, [probably] not something that I’m used to. I always like having an end goal to try and get back.
“For me it’s just to take a few weeks at a time and just to see how I’ve been pulling up after each training and then if going well I can continue to increase my load.”
Alaalatoa’s injury plagued him throughout the 2025 international season, and he made just one start for the Wallabies during last year’s Autumn Nations Series.
“That was probably most of the frustrating part towards the back end of last year,” he added.
“I felt like I probably wasn’t as effective as I could have been due to the body so I just want to make sure that I’m taking the time to get right so I can contribute the best way.”
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