All Blacks captain Scott Barrett ruled out for five months

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has been ruled out for up to five months after a back injury required surgery, leaving New Zealand without one of their senior forwards for a major stretch of the 2026 international season.

Scott Barrett Injury Update

Barrett is set to undergo surgery this week after failing to recover through non-invasive treatment.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney confirmed that the 88-Test lock had tried several recovery options before surgery became necessary.

“He has 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,” said Penney.

“He was in great shape, he had a great break, and he’d come back very excited.

“He’s got his head around it now. It’s a pretty special trip to South Africa that he’s going to miss and some other bits and pieces.

“Ultimately, he’s just got to get himself right.”

The injury comes after Barrett had already taken a sabbatical earlier this year to recover from persistent lower leg issues. He had been preparing for a return in April before the back problem flared up and halted his comeback.

All Blacks Captain To Miss South Africa Tests

Barrett’s recovery timeline means he will miss New Zealand’s July Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland. He will also be unavailable for the All Blacks’ high-profile tour of South Africa in August and September.

The tour includes four Tests against the world champion Springboks as part of an eight-match trip, making Barrett’s absence a major blow for New Zealand’s forward depth and leadership group.