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Blues make captaincy change ahead of 2020 Super Rugby campaign
By Online Editors
The Blues will head into the new Super Rugby season with just one captain at the helm of the squad after All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu was named as skipper on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old was named outright captain of the 2020 squad after having previously shared the duty with loose forward Blake Gibson.
"It's my home town, home province," Tuipulotu said to media following the announcement of his appointment.
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"I'm pretty honoured and privileged to again lead this team, it's obviously different circumstances the time round, with myself solely.
"But in saying that, I've got a good group of guys behind me, who are going to help me out throughout the year."
One challenge that Tuipulotu faces as a leader in a younger, less experienced Blues squad compared to last year is that he won't be able to call on the support of departed veterans such as Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams or ex-captain Augustine Pulu.
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"I was never going to say no if the coaches asked me," he added.
"Leon approached me and told me what was the go and I thought I was happy with that, it's a new challenge, it's different but I'll take it heads on.
"This is where I want to be and that's another driving factor in why I took it."
Tuipulotu will likely get his first match as the club's sole captain next Friday when the Blues host the Chiefs at Eden Park in the first match of the new Super Rugby season.
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Latest Comments
There is a major story unfolding around Gleeson's bar in Booterstown, South Dublin City last night. Beaudy Barrett, DMac and Cody Taylor were there. DMac was supposed to be on the Guinness 0.0 but lets just say it didn't turn out that way.
Hours later, Dmac out cold, head on the table with a long stallagtite of flem and spittle rising and falling with his breathing. There is a video apparently.
The barman barred a staggering Taylor from any more Guinness but Taylor kept pushing past him, pulled a seat up to the Guinness tap and personally pulled himself pints, claiming it was 'celebrity pint pulls mate'.
One of these celebrity pint pulls made a local paper but it's only a matter of time before the real context comes out. Dmac is out of the team for Friday due to breaking 'internal standards', Sititi starting at 10.
Go to commentsNow that made me laugh bull!
I tell you what though, the head knock from Kriel on Hugh jones in the wc that didn’t result in any card was a real mystery with the way things are now.
Also suspect the Boks will be pretty well motivated by glasgows antics in stellenbosch last week and loftus in June…
Should be a cracker hopefully!
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