Super Rugby Pacific: Jordie Barrett, Du’Plessis Kirifi named Hurricanes co-captains for 2026
Monday, 16 February 2026
From classmates to captains. The Hurricanes have confirmed Jordie Barrett and Du’Plessis Kirifi as their co-captains for 2026, extending a shared journey that began at Francis Douglas Memorial College and has carried them through to Super Rugby and the All Blacks.
The Hurricanes had four co-captains last season but have streamlined their leadership this year. Former skippers Brad Shields, Asafo Aumua and Billy Proctor will remain part of a broader leadership group they have referred to as Ngā Kaitiaki.
Kirifi described the pair as “yin and yang” but said their strengths would complement each other as captains.
“Jordie was our first XV captain at high school as well so I’ve worked closely with him, even before I was a professional,” Kirifi said.
“Both of us are looking forward to the challenge that is in front of us and can look fondly on what our careers have looked like, not just professionally but as kids with dreams to achieve big things. We’re certainly still working towards some of those.
“Jordie is really calm and has a measured head on his shoulders and I guess his experience from a young age has always helped me figure out my own path through professional rugby. He came in straight out of school and was fortunate to become an All Black while I was still playing academy rugby so it would be remiss of me not to lean on that experience but more just as a friend. We’ve always got each other’s backs and that doesn’t change no matter what team.”
Barrett said it was a “massive honour” to lead the Hurricanes alongside Kirifi. While he served as an All Blacks vice-captain under Scott Robertson, this will be his first formal leadership role with the Hurricanes.
The experienced second five/fullback returns after a season in Ireland with United Rugby Championship powerhouse Leinster. He is expected to captain the Hurricanes in Friday night’s season opener against Moana Pasifika at Sky Stadium, with Kirifi sidelined by a calf tear.
“It’s a massive honour to be trusted by the coaches and the wider group and to do it alongside Dupes is extra special,” Barrett said. “We’re lucky we’ve spent a lot of time together in classrooms and on the same team through Francis Douglas and pretty much our whole careers at the Hurricanes.
“We’ll lean on each other a lot and the early thoughts are there’s a lot of excitement coming back into this group. We feel there’s a great opportunity but that’s all it is – a gift we’ve been given – and now it’s up to us to go on and have a big year.”
The Hurricanes will also be without first-five Ruben Love, who suffered an ankle injury at last week’s training camp in Palmerston North. Assistant coach Brad Cooper confirmed Love would miss the opening rounds but could return as early as their second home game against the Western Force on March 13 after scans ruled out a fracture.
With Harry Godfrey sidelined for the season by a torn ACL, Love’s absence leaves Brett Cameron and Lucas Cashmore as the leading contenders to wear the No 10 jersey against Moana.
“X-rays have come back clear so it’s a soft tissue ankle injury. We haven’t been updated further but he’s probably going to be pushing to get away with us to Fiji and Sydney,” Cooper said.
Moana Pasifika will arrive in Wellington with momentum after a statement 40-26 win over the Fijian Drua at their Churchill Park fortress, with captain Miracle Faiilagi scoring a hat-trick.
Kirifi said the Hurricanes were on high alert after being held scoreless in their final pre-season hit-out against the Chiefs and sitting out the opening weekend. They also lost a day of training due to the wild weather that battered the capital on Monday.
“The advantage for every other team is they’ve now had a game to get rid of that rust, whereas we haven’t,” Kirifi said. “The challenge for us is to hit the ground running against Moana.”