Captain for Waratahs' 'new era' named
NEW LEADER: Head Coach Rob Penney on Thursday named the man set to lead a new era for the NSW Waratahs, with flyhalf Jake Gordon getting the nod.
A product of Canterbury Juniors and Sydney Uni, Gordon is set to captain his State for the first time, with 55 caps for the Waratahs since he made his debut in 2017.
The 27-year-old has come through the New South Wales pathways, his leadership qualities both on and off the field making him the top choice for captain.
“It’s a great privilege to not just represent New South Wales, but also be captain. You look at the past captains of this team, especially the recent ones, Rob Simmons who played 100 tests for his country and Michael Hooper also the captain of the Wallabies,” said Gordon.
“Growing up I thought to play a game for the Waratahs was a big achievement, and to be able to captain this great state is something I’m very proud of.
“I’m really excited about the new faces in the squad, and also some of the guys who got some experience last year, especially internationals like Will Harrison, James Ramm and Lachie Swinton.
“We’ve also got a couple of graduates from the 2019 U20 World Cup coming through, and guys like Angus Bell and Lachy Swinton who got caps and experience at the Wallaby level last year,” he said.
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Penney said: “Jake is a true blue Tah. He is a great bloke and a wonderful player who will give everything he has for the team.
“Jake being named captain of the Waratahs was an obvious choice for us as he exemplifies the traits we are looking for in a leader.
“He is a fierce competitor as well as having a really great connection with people. As he steps into this new leadership role and has already shown a real desire to be a collaborative leader who is keen to grow into the role”.
“Our leadership team has been working well together and have given Jake a massive vote of confidence with their unanimous support. Jake has all the qualities and support to be able to lead the side both on and off the field with distinction,” he said.
The Waratahs are set to face the Queensland Reds as part of a trial match in Narrabri on 5 February, ahead of the opening round of the Super Rugby AU in Brisbane against the Reds on 19 February.
The first opportunity for New South Wales fans to see Gordon lead the Tahs will be against the Western Force at Bankwest Stadium on 5 March.
