The Chiefs will look to loose forward Luke Jacobson to lead the team in 2024, announcing Tuesday that the 26-year-old has been awarded captaincy.
Jacobson will hold the role that last year was split between co-captains Brad Weber and Sam Cane.
With 63 Chiefs caps and 18 All Blacks Tests to his name, Jacobson will look to build off the career year he had in 2023, where he established himself as one of the finest loose forwards in Super Rugby Pacific.
Jacobson was recognised as a potential leader soon after making his Chiefs debut in 2018 according to coach Clayton McMillan.
“Luke has always been viewed as a future Chiefs Captain and is primed to make his presence felt in this key role,” he said. “He will have learned plenty following the deep footprints of some recent outstanding leaders but is his own man and will no doubt cut his own path.”
Two vice captains have also been named in Kaylum Boshier and Rameka Poihipi. Aged 24 and 25 respectively, the new leadership group looks primed for the future.
“It’s a little bit of a nod to the future but the general public won’t be aware of the influence that those guys have in our environment,” McMillan explained. “They’re highly respected players, they lead by example, they’re a little bit quieter but they’re really considered. When they talk, it’s usually to support or challenge and they’ve done that really well.
“They’ve been the leading candidates in the absence of our All Blacks pre-Christmas so they’re fully deserving of their role.
“Then we know we’ve got some more established All Blacks and bigger personalities in the team that are going to add value anyway, so it’s about sharing the responsibility, leadership role.
“Those guys like Damian (McKenzie), Anton (Lienert-Brown), Samisoni (Taukei’aho), Tupou (Vaa’i), our All Blacks guys, they’ll all have roles in the team but we don’t want anyone to have to do any more than they need to.”
The coach wouldn’t confirm whether it would be the 7 or 8 jersey that his captain would be wearing this year, but was happy to have Jacobson back healthy – a factor that played into the team adopting co-captains in the past.
“Luke is also no stranger to captaincy, having led the team with aplomb on several occasions over the last few years,” said McMillan.
“He epitomises the qualities we look for in a Chief, is highly respected by staff and peers, builds a good rapport with officials, whilst his playing ability speaks for itself. I can’t wait to see him flourish with this added responsibility.”
Jacobson expressed his excitement to be lead a team he has huge respect for.
“It’s not really a role I search for but one I’m bloody proud to fill. I’m looking forward to working with the team and doing everything we can to go that one step further this year.”
