Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 3rd August 2025, 5:59 PM
New Zealand Rugby confirmed on Sunday that scrum-half Cameron Roigard will miss both upcoming Tests against Argentina, adding to the growing injury concerns ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Injury Details and Impact
Roigard, 24, sustained a stress fracture in his foot during last month’s 3-0 home series sweep over an under-strength French side. Scans have ruled him out of the Tests against the Pumas in Córdoba on 16 August and Buenos Aires a week later.
| Player | Injury | Matches Missed | Notes |
| Cameron Roigard | Stress fracture (foot) | Argentina Tests (16 & 23 August) | Key player under coach Scott Robertson |
| Noah Hotham | Ankle injury | Argentina Tests | Ruled out prior to Roigard’s injury |
| Tyrel Lomax | Injury (unspecified) | Argentina Tests | First-choice prop; recovering |
| Caleb Clarke | Injury (unspecified) | Argentina Tests | Winger; recovering |
| Luke Jacobson | Injury (unspecified) | Argentina Tests | Back-rower; recovering |
Roigard’s status for the two home Tests against South Africa in September remains uncertain.
Squad Selection Challenges
With Roigard and Hotham both unavailable, only Cortez Ratima remains among the three scrum-halves who featured in the recent France series.
Head coach Scott Robertson faces a challenge in naming the 36-man squad set to travel to Argentina, and may consider recalling:
Other Injury Updates and Player Availability
Robertson previously confirmed that alongside Roigard and Hotham, first-choice prop Tyrel Lomax and winger Caleb Clarke will miss the Argentina Tests as they continue their recovery. Back-rower Luke Jacobson is also sidelined.
| Player | Injury Status | Expected Availability |
| Scott Barrett | Calf muscle complaint | Likely to return for Argentina Tests |
| Beauden Barrett | Injury recovery | Expected to be available |
| Tupou Vaa’i | Fitness | Expected to be available |
| Wallace Sititi | Fitness | Expected to be available |
| Tamaiti Williams | Fitness | Expected to be available |
Captain Scott Barrett, who missed the last two Tests against France with a calf injury, is expected to be included in the squad.
Summary Table: Scrum-Halves and Injury Status
| Player | Caps | Injury Status | Notes |
| Cameron Roigard | – | Stress fracture, sidelined | Emerging key player under Robertson |
| Cortez Ratima | – | Fit | Only available scrum-half from France series |
| Finlay Christie | 23 | Fit (likely recall) | Last Test over a year ago |
| Folau Fakatava | – | Fit | Two bench appearances (2022) |
| Noah Hotham | – | Ankle injury, sidelined | Ruled out of Argentina Tests |
New Zealand’s squad announcement on Monday will reveal how Robertson manages his scrum-half resources as the All Blacks prepare for the challenging tour of Argentina.
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