Highly-rated halfback Dylan Pledger has sustained a serious knee injury at training which requires surgery and will rule him out of the game for 12 months.
Pledger, a star for the New Zealand Under-20s last year and who has yet to play Super Rugby, ruptured an ACL while training with the Highlanders.
It is a huge blow for the Highlanders and Pledger, who was in contention for the All Blacks XV tour of Europe late last year and who would almost certainly have been named in an All Blacks squad this year as head coach Scott Robertson continues to lay the foundations for the 2027 World Cup.
In a social media post released by the Highlanders today, Pledger said: “It’s incredibly disappointing to get a season-ending injury as I was very excited about my first full season as a professional. I guess I have learned early that part of being a professional rugby player is dealing with injury.
"My energy now will be put into rehabbing as best I can so I can come back in the best possible shape. I will be able to focus a bit more on my study too.”
The 20-year-old was poised to light up Super Rugby this year after impressing with Otago, the NPC champions and Ranfurly Shield holders, in 2025.
Pledger made his debut for Otago in round three of the NPC last year and his passing and running game took the southerners to a new level on attack.
He made such an impact that Pledger appeared a shoo-in for the All Blacks XV squad to play the Barbarians, England A and Georgia in November but head coach Jamie Joseph, also the head coach of the Highlanders, stated Pledger would be better served with a season of Super Rugby behind him before making that step.
Cam Roigard is the current All Blacks' No.1 halfback, with Cortez Ratima, Kyle Preston and Finlay Christie also in the mix.
The All Blacks are in action in July with Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland and will tour South Africa on the "Greatest Rivalry" tour in August.
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