Hurricanes make unique leadership call with four captains named for 2025

Asafo Aumua, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Billy Proctor and Brad Shields will all captain the Hurricanes in 2025 with coach Clark Laidlaw explaining the “different” approach to leadership less than a week out from the new Super Rugby Pacific season.

Ahead of the Hurricanes’ season-opener away to the Crusaders in Christchurch on Valentine’s Day, coach Laidlaw and the Hurricanes have announced the unique captaincy call which is sure to come as a surprise to rugby fans around the world.

Shields was named the Hurricanes’ captain on January 31 going into last season, while Aumua and Jordie Barrett were selected as vice-captains. The former England international has retained the role but three others have also stepped up to the plate.

It’s been reported by Stuff that two of the four will be selected as co-captains on Wednesday when Laidlaw names the Hurricanes’ matchday 23 to take on the Crusaders in a blockbuster New Zealand derby to kick off the new season.

“Yes, the approach is a little bit different, but we’re not just doing it for the sake of being different. This is what we felt was the best way to structure and provide leadership and guidance within our environment this season,” Laidlaw said in a statement.

“In Asafo, Du’Plessis, Billy and Brad, we are fortunate to have exceptional men who already naturally lead different facets of our game. If you couple that ability with the ever-changing picture to select 23 men each week, then it does give us some continuity with our leadership.”

Aumua helped lead the Hurricanes in Shields’ absence last season, with the hooker going on to impress and later don the black jersey under Scott Robertson at Test level. However, it’s understood the front-rower will miss all matches this month.

Proctor is another established member of the Canes’ starting side, with the midfielder going on to debut for the All Blacks against Fiji in San Diego. As a key player on both attack and defence, the 25-year-old is the sole back among this quartet of captains.

Then there’s Kirifi who famously led the Wellington Lions to National Provincial Championship glory last season, with the men from the capital sneaking by Bay of Plenty in a 100-minute extra-time thriller at Sky Stadium.

Kirifi later captained the All Blacks XV under coach Clayton McMillan.

“The reality is that we are not going to have four named skippers on the field (or in the 23) at any one time,” Laidlaw added. “We’ll designate a captain or co-captains week to week based on the make-up of the team and who is available.”

Also in the news for the Hurricanes this week, backrower Devan Flanders suffered a “freak” injury at training. Flanders played 14 matches for the Hurricanes in 2024, which included a start at blindside flanker in their quarter-final triumph, before earning selection for the All Blacks XV.

Flanders joins Ruben Love, Tyrel Lomax and Aumua in a notable list of players who are set for some time on the sidelines. It’s a tough blow for last season’s number-one seed, who also face the Fijian Drua and Blues across the first three rounds.

“Unfortunately Devan has picked up a really bad injury; a total freak accident warming up in the captain’s run before the game on Thursday,” Laidlaw explained.

“He’s got an ankle injury and it looked like a leg break. We don’t know how long that’s going to be yet… pretty disappointing.”