JC Astle has been appointed as the Kings’ captain for the remainder of the 2018-19 Pro14 season.

The Kings announced the change in leadership on Monday after it was confirmed that regular skipper Michael Willemse has been ruled out for up to three months with a shoulder knock.

The 28-year-old Astle returned to the Kings at the beginning of the current campaign after spending two seasons with Mont-de-Marsan, who compete in the French second division.

Adding to the Kings’ injury woes, was confirmation from team doctor Gershwin Nortje that loose forward Bakkies Brown (ankle) and prop Xandré Vos (neck) have both been ruled out for two months.

Others who are already on the Kings’ injury list are prop Schalk Ferreira (nose), loose forward CJ Velleman (shoulder), scrumhalves Rudi van Rooyen (ankle) and Sarel Pretorius (foot), prop Pieter Scholtz (shoulder), flyhalf Oliver Zono (knee), wing Sibusiso Sithole (shoulder) and prop Martin Dreyer (knee).

Photo: Kings