Stags coach Dave Hewett has been impressed with the way experienced hooker Brayden Mitchell has reacted to news of a season-ending neck injury.

Mitchell received the news two weeks ago that he would require surgery on his neck, effectively ruling him out of Southland’s 2018 Mitre 10 Cup campaign.

“Understandably he was disappointed when he first heard, but he’s bounced back really well,” Hewett said.

“He’s taken on the role of non-playing player, helping out from a managerial point of view. He’s still involved in all the previews and reviews with the team, he’s got information which he is passing onto the group, he’s been tremendous. He’s also still in our leadership group; I couldn’t ask for more from him and I respect how he’s taken on this news.”

Mitchell, a former New Zealand under 20, and Highlanders, Hurricanes and Chiefs Super Rugby representative, has led the Stags since 2015 after a stint with Waikato.

The 29-year-old made his Southland debut back in 2009.

“He’s given great service to Southland rugby, and rugby in general,” Hewett said.

Mitchell’s misfortune has accelerated the progress of Flynn Thomas, who made his debut for the Stags last year and 35-year-old utility back James Wilson will co-captain the Stags in 2018.

For Thomas, who is in just his second season with the Stags after an impressive schoolboy career which included playing for the New Zealand under 20 team, the captaincy was both an honour and something he had to consider before accepting.

Flynn talked with his parents, senior players and former first XV coach Peter Skelt before accepting the offer from Stags coach Dave Hewett.

“It was a big surprise. I was a bit hesitant, but after a bit of deliberation and a few chats, I came to the decision that it was the right thing to do,” Thomas said.

“I felt like I hadn’t earned the right to take on that role, but it’s a real honour.”

Thomas follows in the sprig marks of a strong tradition of Southland hookers who have led the team over the past two decades, including Mitchell, Jason Rutledge, Corey Flynn and Davin Heaps.

“I had hoped that I would be offered this role at some stage in the future, but I never thought it would happen this quickly. The beauty of being co-captain with James is that he’s been around a lot longer than I have and I can chip away and learn a few things off him. He’ll mainly take the lead role on the field and I’ll add in what I can.”

Wilson is well used to being part of senior leadership groups during his time in the UK and admired the leadership style of Northampton and England skipper Dylan Hartley.

“We are very close friends and he leads by example, he’s physical, very precise in explaining what he wants done and he gets guys to buy into that because he has that respect,” Wilson said.

“It’s a huge honour, representing your home team. Being away and now coming back, I wanted to play a leadership role and offer the experience I’ve gained over the years, but doing so with the captain’s badge is an opportunity that I’m very grateful for. This is a good bunch of lads who just want to learn, so that makes the job a lot of easier.”

Hewett said Wilson would take the lead in the co-captaincy duties, with Flynn taking control over the forwards.

“We’ve got a leader in the forwards and one in the backs, which is really important,” he said.

“We’ve got a guy with a lot experience and is a good leader in the team, and a guy who is going to be a good leader and it’s going to get that experience. They were both leading during the preseason already, that’s just their personalities. Age is nothing when it comes to leading, it’s your ability, your work ethic and your ability to connect with people that’s important.”

Preseason has seen Blues hooker Jaya More added to the mix from the Rugby Southland academy.

However, Hewett said it was too early to throw More into a full Mitre 10 Cup campaign prompting him to call in Queensland Reds hooker Andrew Ready, who will arrive on today.

“I’ve spoken to (Reds coach) Brad Thorn about him and talked to Andrew, he’s really excited about it. I know him through my involvement with another team and he was a bit of a menace.”

Hewett said Rugby Southland’s wider vision was around putting more resource into local coaches who could help to develop players and add depth in positions like hooker.

“That’s a longer term gain, but it’s something we are planning to put in place ahead of the next club season. There are a number of coaches out there in division one and premier who have indicated they would be really keen to get extra help to become better coaches.”

Southland Stags first home game Sunday 19^th August 4.35pm, Rugby Park Invercargill

Article added: Monday 13 August 2018