Tasman Makos: News

Former All Black to Captain Makos
14-Jun-2010

Marlborough Express - JOHN ALEXANDER
Former All Black lock Chris Jack will captain the Tasman Makos rugby team this season.

Jack's appointment was announced today and he replaces last year's skipper, Andrew Goodman, who has moved to play in Japan.

Although having little captaincy experience behind him, Jack said he was looking forward to his new role. "I wasn't thinking about the captaincy but the more I think about it now the more excited I am."

Jack said having his former Canterbury and Crusaders team-mate Leon MacDonald working alongside head coach Kieran Keane was also exciting.

"Pretty excited working with them. Obviously it's Leon's first coaching job. From what I heard from the players he worked with at the Crusaders, he'll be good.

"Tasman will be a young side. But that's the good thing about it, especially for Kieran and Leon. They have got a team they can sort of make their own because of that age and work with it right from the start."

Jack is unsure of what his leadership style will be.

"Hopefully I lead from the front. I won't be too much of a yeller, I wouldn't imagine. Just pretty quiet and hopefully get the other boys involved to bring their leadership forward and grow as a team more than one person leading the ship."

Jack said he could draw on the experience of fellow Crusaders Jonathan Poff and Joe Wheeler, plus All Black prop Ben Franks.

Jack emerged from the recent Super 14 competition in good shape physically apart from a slight knee injury, and he still has a burning desire to wear the black jersey again. The ITM Cup is a chance to realise his All Blacks dream.

"I came back to be an All Black. I want to be an All Black. Obviously I wasn't quite there yet this time but that's why I'm so excited about Tasman. It gives me another opportunity to show my play and give me a chance to get back in the team."

Keane is thrilled to have Jack captaining the team and said: "There were a number of things which made it fit. He has the passion for the region. He has an affinity with the place. He has that experience factor. A lot of mana in Marlborough and Nelson and he relates very well to young players.

"He is someone who has been there and done it and he's a genuinely nice man."

The 31-year-old brings huge experience with him. He's one of New Zealand's most experienced forwards having played 67 tests for the All Blacks between 2001 and 2007, 98 games for the Crusaders and 40 for Canterbury.

Jack has already played for the Tasman Makos and made a favourable impression in his five matches in 2006 and 2007.

Since leaving New Zealand after the 2007 World Cup, Jack has played for Saracens in England and Western Province in South Africa.

The Tasman Makos are expected to announce two more significant player signings in the next few days.