Highlanders star’s All Blacks dream in tatters after confirmation of season-ending injury
Caleb Tangitau has been one of the Highlanders' stars during their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
The Highlanders have confirmed that star winger Caleb Tangitau sustained a season-ending injury in Friday’s encounter against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The Dunedin-based outfit confirmed the news in a social media post which read: “Caleb has a full rupture of his left Achilles requiring surgery (6-9 months RTP).
“Devastated for our guy.”
In tears as he left the field
The 23-year-old was in tears as he was carted off the field at FMG Waikato Stadium in the game’s dying moments after collapsing on the pitch due to the non-contact injury.
Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph expanded on the nature of the injury after the New Zealand derby which the Chiefs won 42-12.
“It looks as though he’s ruptured his Achilles. That’s really disappointing for a him – a young winger coming in and playing really good rugby, coming in and scoring awesome tries,” he said.
“He’s aspiring to become an All Black and play at the highest level.
“I guess he’s young, that’s on his side, and the surgeons these days are pretty good. “He’ll be back.”
Tangitau has been one of the Highlanders’ star performers in 2026 and has already scored seven tries during their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
One of Super Rugby Pacific’s best attacking players
Apart from his fine try-scoring form, he has been amongst the frontrunners in the competition’s attacking statistics as he has made the second most clean breaks (18), is in fourth position for defenders beaten (43), and is in seventh place for defenders beaten (640).
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New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and two of his assistants, Jason Ryan and Mike Blair, were spectators at the Chiefs v Highlanders clash.
Tangitau issued a statement on Instagram on Friday night which read: “Not the way I wanted to finish the year but that’s footy man. Thanks to everyone who’s messaged your support, means everything.”
The Highlanders’ defeat to the Chiefs means the men from Dunedin currently occupy eighth position in the standings and they have amassed 24 points from 13 matches played.
Their next match is against the table-topping Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday before having a final-round bye the following week.