Leroy Carter ruled out for 2026 as All Blacks injury crisis deepens ahead of Europe tour

Leroy Carter’s 2026 season is over after the Chiefs and All Blacks winger underwent ankle surgery following a high-ankle injury suffered during the first Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies at Eden Park. The confirmation came on Monday evening, ruling him out of the remainder of New Zealand’s campaign.

Carter sustained the injury in the act of scoring in the second half, charging onto a Peter Lakai pop pass from the base of a ruck before Wallabies loose-forward Rob Valetini fell on his lower leg in an attempt to prevent the try. He was helped from the field and had already been ruled out of the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney before the full extent of the damage was confirmed.

The winger’s absence adds to a mounting injury list that is placing serious pressure on head coach Dave Rennie ahead of a four-Test Nations Championship tour of Europe. Captain Ardie Savea, Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson, and first-five Ruben Love are all confirmed absentees for the tour, while Ethan Blackadder, Patrick Tuipulotu, Richie Mo’unga, Shannon Frizell, and hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho are all carrying doubts.

Taukei’aho left the field in Sydney with calf tightness just 15 minutes into his appearance off the bench, and faces a race against time if the injury requires multiple weeks to heal. Mo’unga’s calf complaint carries a similarly uncertain timeline; Rennie indicated in Sydney that the Crusaders playmaker should be available for the final two Tests of the tour but remains a doubt for the opening fixtures against Scotland and Wales.

Frizell, who had only recently returned to the All Blacks environment, appeared to suffer a non-contact knee injury late at Accor Stadium, going down in midfield while attempting to carry the ball. Jordie Barrett also sat out the second Bledisloe Test with calf tightness, though his absence was described as precautionary rather than the result of a new injury.

Despite the disruption, Anton Segner, Asafo Aumua, and Quinn Tupaea are all expected to be named in the squad even after each picked up concussions during the two-Test Bledisloe Cup series. New Zealand are set to announce a 34-to-36-man touring party on Tuesday NZT, with fixtures scheduled against Scotland at Murrayfield, Wales in Cardiff, England in London, and a Nations Championship finals weekend clash at Allianz Stadium against an opponent yet to be determined.