Highlanders reveal their captain

NEWS: The Highlanders have named James Lentjes as their new captain for the upcoming 2020 Super Rugby season.

According to Stuff, the 28-year-old flank will replace last season's co-captains Ben Smith and Luke Whitelock, both of whom are now playing in France.

All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith and Ash Dixon will take up the vice-captaincy roles, respectively.

Lentjes revealed he spoke to senior members of the Highlanders' playing group to seek their feedback before telling head coach Aaron Mauger he would accept the role.

"They were supportive and that gave me the confidence they were in my corner," Lentjes told Stuff on Friday.

"They were happy for me to be captain. It's a one-man job in terms of captaincy but they'll influence the decisions that I make quite significantly."

He added: "Azza [Highlandader head coach Aaron Mauger] was happy for me to take a couple of weeks to think about it,"

"It wasn't that I didn't want to do it, it was more than I wanted to make sure that I had some support around me and the boys were happy for me to do it.

"When I sorted those things out I rang Azza back and he was excited."

Source: @NZStuff