Liebenberg appointed captain of Leicester Tigers

Leicester loose-forward Hanro Liebenberg has been named club captain as the 2022-23 Premiership looms. 

26 year-old Liebenberg joined the Tigers in 2019 and has since racked up 59 appearances. 

He was named as vice-captain last season and was tasked with leading the side on a number of occasions and also scooped the Supporters’ Player of the Year award the season before. 

“It is a great honour for me. I know it will be a big challenge but it is a challenge I want to take on,” Liebenberg said. 

“I won’t be suddenly changing who I am and the things I have been doing. We must all keep one another accountable and I have asked the boys to do that, to push me and push each other forward. 

“You need a captain but it is more than just one person who leads and we have a great group of players here, experienced and younger, who all contribute to setting the standard and leading. 

“I am honoured to be named club captain of a club like Leicester Tigers, with such rich history of captains, but just as much to have been given the responsibility in this group with these players.” 

Leicester released the following statement:

“Hanro Liebenberg has been appointed Leicester Tigers club captain. The back-rower has made 59 appearances for the club since his debut in September 2019 after joining the club ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

“Liebenberg was appointed vice-captain ahead of last season in which he led the side on several occasions. He has previous leadership experience after captaining SA U20s in 2015, leading the Junior Springboks in that season’s World Rugby U20s Championship. The 26-year-old won the supporters’ player of the year award at the conclusion of the 2020/21 season.

“Liebenberg is the first South African – and just the second non-English skipper in more than half a century – to be named Leicester Tigers club captain and follows Ellis Genge, Tom Youngs and Ed Slater in recently earning the role.”