Caelan Doris has been named Leinster captain for the coming season.
The back-row has captained Ireland on several occasions this year in Peter O'Mahony's absence and deputised in the role with Leinster on occasion during the 2023/24 season, which saw the province once again come up short in the Champions Cup final.
Doris was announced as the permanent skipper on Thursday and spoke of his pride at being trusted with the responsibility.
It’s a massive privilege for me to be leading this group.
I’m fortunate to have so many quality players and staff around me whose advice and input will be crucial. It was special to get the opportunity to captain Leinster several times last season and I’m excited to do the same again this year.
There’s no shortage of ambition within this group and we’re all looking forward to the new season and representing the supporters, our communities, and the 12 counties of Leinster in the Aviva Stadium, Croke Park and beyond.
Leo Cullen also spoke on the decision to make Doris captain. The head coach's remarks hinted at a recurring issue of the 2023-24 season which Leinster have decided to steer clear of for the coming campaign.
READ HERE: Ex-Lion's Brutal 2013 Remark Sums Up Disastrous Australia Start Under Joe Schmidt
READ HERE: Johnny Sexton Made Rugby Pilgrimage To Cape Town Last Weekend
Leinster move away from co-captaincy for 2024/25
25 May 2024; Leinster captain Caelan Doris before the Investec Champions Cup final between Leinster and Toulouse at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Leo Cullen confirmed that James Ryan and Garry Ringrose will serve as vice-captains to Caelan Doris for Leinster this season, having shared the captaincy last year.
Over the course of last season, our supporters will have seen not only how Caelan performed himself, but how he grew into the captaincy role when given that opportunity both with Leinster and Ireland. He is an outstanding leader and a natural choice to lead Leinster into what we hope will be an exciting season.
Caelan will be well supported by James Ryan and Garry Ringrose, who both did an excellent job for us as co-captains last season. There is also a wealth of top-level experience in the wider group that will help and support Caelan in the months ahead.
The decision to share the captaincy last season would lead to issues in several major games, particularly in the opening months of the campaign, with confusion reigning as to who was the designated leader on the pitch.
During last November's clash with Munster, Ringrose was the designated Leinster player allowed to approach the officials. A first-half incident would see a ten-yard penalty given to Leinster when Ryan attempted to speak to the referee.
Leinster's unorthodox solution to finding Johnny Sexton's successor as captain found criticism from several pundits, including Jim Hamilton and former Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip.
Leo Cullen would defend Ryan after another incident in a Champions Cup pool game against La Rochelle saw him clash with referee Matthew Carley. It appears now, however, that Leinster have responded to the issues caused by the shared captaincy.
It is no surprise that Caelan Doris has been added to the leadership group, given how he filled such a role with regularity for Leinster and Ireland last season. And, of course, James Ryan and Garry Ringrose remain a core part of that leadership group as senior players in the Leinster squad.
However, it appears the shared captaincy will be remembered as little more than a failed experiment from Leinster.
SEE ALSO: Toulon Star Points Finger At Ronan O'Gara For Touchline Altercation
