Highlanders loose forward Shane Christie will share the captain duties with Ben Smith in 2016.

Christie missed the entire 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby regular season due to injury, only recovering in time to play off the bench in the knockout stage. However, coach Jamie Joseph has shown faith in the player’s leadership abilities by naming him alongside Smith as co-captain for next season.

The flanker will take over from Nasi Manu, who left the franchise at the end of the 2015 season to play for Edinburgh. Manu and Smith led the Highlanders to a first-ever Super Rugby title this year.

The Highlanders get their 2016 Super Rugby campaign underway on 26 February against the Brumbies in Canberra.

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