All Blacks centre Billy Proctor has been ruled out for 10 to 12 weeks with a fractured shoulder blade, dealing New Zealand a second major injury setback on their South African tour, according to an official team statement reported by europesays.com and kickoff.com.
Tour-Ending Injury for Proctor
According to team scans reported by europesays.com, Proctor fractured his shoulder blade early in the second half of Friday’s match at DHL Stadium. Head coach Dave Rennie initially noted after the game that Proctor was dealing with a shoulder issue before official assessments confirmed the fracture. While the injury does not require surgery, the 10-to-12-week recovery timeline ends Proctor’s participation in the tour.
Proctor entered the South African fixtures holding 13 Test appearances, looking to cement his position in the outside centre role following a recent Test against Italy in Wellington. His absence narrows New Zealand’s midfield options as selectors weigh combinations alongside Jordie Barrett.
Squad Shuffling Ahead of Durban Test
Proctor’s departure leaves the All Blacks down two players from their original 44-man squad, following the earlier exit of Crusaders hooker George Bell. According to kickoff.com, Bell returned home the previous week due to a calf injury sustained during a training session in Cape Town and was replaced by Bradley Slater. The team has not named a replacement for Proctor ahead of their fixture against the Sharks.
New Zealand faces the Sharks in Durban on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 19:00 local time. The Sharks side features 44-year-old All Blacks centurion Ma’a Nonu, who last played for New Zealand at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and joins the South African United Rugby Championship outfit following a stint with French club Toulon, as detailed by europesays.com.
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