Scott Barrett's sabbatical has ended in disappointment after the All Blacks captain was ruled out for up to five months with a back injury requiring surgery. The 88-cap Crusaders lock will go under the knife this week, missing both the Nations Championship home fixtures and the four-Test tour of South Africa in August and September.
Barrett had taken time away from Super Rugby Pacific to resolve persistent ankle and Achilles problems, intending to return in April ahead of the July internationals. However, the 32-year-old suffered a fresh setback when his back flared up during training.
"He's tried every non-invasive trick you could do to get right and it just hasn't come off, so he'll be in the operating theatre by the end of the week," Crusaders coach Rob Penney said. "He was in great shape, he had a great break, and he'd come back very excited. He's as frustrated as all of us are for him."
The injury represents a significant blow for new head coach Dave Rennie, who replaced Scott Robertson in January and will now be forced to name a new captain for the upcoming campaign. Barrett's captaincy had already been the subject of scrutiny following criticism of his performances since taking the role in 2024.
The absence also compounds injury concerns for the Crusaders, who are navigating a mounting casualty list during the crucial run-in to the Super Rugby season. Barrett had been targeting a potential return for the franchise's final matches, but those hopes have now been extinguished.