All Blacks loose forward Dalton Papalii has been named captain of the Blues, taking the reins of the side for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Papalii will lead the Auckland-based side, with incumbent Patrick Tuipulotu on a one-year sabbatical with Japanese club Toyota Verblitz, after steering the Auckland side to the 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman crown - their first title in 18 years.
The 24-year-old has notched 12 tests for the All Blacks and 45 Super Rugby appearances for the Blues, playing a key role in their trans-Tasman success.
Papalii's first major challenge as a leader will be to galvanise his charges, as they relocate to a Queenstown bubble for Super Rugby Pacific's opening rounds, due to the COVID-19 threat.
"It's a real honour and privilege," he says. "To be honest, I was surprised when Leon approached me, but very humbled to take over this season from Patty [Tuipulotu].
"The boys have already set the tone and welcomed the All Blacks back into the group. We are all buying into what we stand for and what we want to achieve.
"We have some challenges with this time away in Queenstown, but we need to put in the 'mahi' every single day."
Papalii was chosen to captain the Blues ahead of the likes of All Blacks vice-captain Beauden Barrett, former NZ Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - admittedly still to make his rugby union playing return - and teammate Tom Robinson, who captained the team in Tuipulotu's absence last year.
Coach Leon MacDonald has no doubts over bestowing the captaincy on Papalii.
"He is a born-and-raised Aucklander, who has come through the Blues system," MacDonald says. "His work ethic is second-to-none, to go with his immense speed, skill and tenacity.
"Dalton has already been in our leadership group and has been a big part in building the culture of our team. Although he is a young man, he has already emerged as a key cog at our club, both on and off the field.
"We believe he is ready to take on the captaincy, bearing in mind that we have a number of highly experienced leaders like Beauden Barrett, Harry Plummer, Tom Robinson and a bunch of All Blacks, who will wrap around him."
The Blues will kick off Super Rugby Pacific against expansion side Moana Pasifika on February 18.
Join Newshub for live updates of 2022 Super Rugby Pacific from February 18.
