Lauaki to captain Chiefs

Date published : 13 Jan 2010 - 09:52:55

Sione Lauaki will captain the Chiefs in the opening three rounds of this year's Super 14 competition.

The big number eight will fill in for regular skipper and All Blacks full-back Mils Muliaina who negotiated an extended off-season break when he renewed his deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union last year.

Lauaki will lead last year's beaten finalists on their trip to South Africa and Australia which will see them play the Sharks in Durban, the Lions in Johannesburg and Western Force in Perth.

While the decision to select Lauaki ahead of Waikato captain and All Black loose forward Liam Messam will surprise many, coach Ian Foster said the hard-hitting Lauaki had proved his leadership qualities last year.

"On-field he's hugely influential for this particular group and off-field - as I've been saying for a while - he has a major impact on the culture of the team," Foster told The Waikato Times.

"I think he's really grown through some ups and downs and become a fantastic leader.

"We saw a lot of behind-the-scenes leadership last year particularly that was very valuable for us.

"He's got a very good relationship with Mils and it's just a chance for him. He's been here since December, he's got a good feel for this group and I think it just takes a bit of a load off the All Blacks, who are coming back, to not come in and feel like they have got to do everything but just be the best they can be in those early rounds."

The Chiefs will play three pre-season matches - against the Highlanders (January 23), the Blues (January 29) and the Hurricanes (February 5) - before flying to South Africa for their Super 14 opener on February 13.

Muliaina returns to the team in time for their first home match against the Queensland Reds on March 5.