Du’Plessis Kirifi and Jordie Barrett named Hurricanes co-captains for 2026

The Hurricanes have named Du’Plessis Kirifi and Jordie Barrett as co-captains for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

It marks the first time that Barrett has been named in a captaincy role at the Hurricanes, adding to his leadership credentials as All Blacks vice-captain. Kirifi returns to the role after he was named as a Hurricanes co-captain for the first time last season.

“It’s a great honour to be backed by the coaches and playing group to co-captain the side alongside Du’Plessis this season,” Barrett said.

“Playing for the Hurricanes has always meant a lot to me and I’m confident we have the squad to have a successful season. 

“We have a great group of leaders who I know will support Du’Plessis and I throughout the season, and we can’t wait for the competition to begin.”

Kirifi added: “Leading the Hurricanes alongside Jordie is not only an honour, but extremely humbling. The love I have for this team, the region, and its people is immense, and I’m excited for the challenge that’s in front of us and what we can do together.

“O le ala i le pule o le tautua. The pathway to leadership is through service. We can’t wait to serve this team and its people to the best of our abilities.”

The 28-year-olds are both long-serving Hurricanes who have established themselves as two of New Zealand’s leading players since making their respective club debuts.

Barrett first played for the Hurricanes against the Sunwolves in 2017 and has made 111 appearances and scored 794 points for the club.

Kirifi made a try-scoring debut against the Waratahs in 2019 and has since become a mainstay in the Hurricanes squad, featuring in 93 matches.

“The co-captains are an exciting pair,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.

“They are two outstanding professionals, Hurricane men through and through, who are super competitive around their performance. They connect really well across the team on and off the field, and they bring a different lens to our environment.”

Together, Kirifi and Barrett head a five-man leadership group known as Ngā Kaitiaki, alongside last year’s co-captains Brad Shields, Asafo Aumua, and Billy Proctor.

“We feel Ngā Kaitiaki needs to lead the club between the five of them. With Jordie and Dupes as the co-captains, we believe it’s a really strong leadership model,” Laidlaw said.

“We’re all working well together behind-the-scenes in pre-season to drive the group forward. Jordie’s come back in with a real enthusiasm after being away, and Dupes is quite similar, apart from picking up a little niggle in pre-season. 

“He came back early from his All Blacks rest and was training particularly well, so once Dupes is fit again and they’re both on the field and leading the team, it will be exciting. We’re looking forward to it.”

The Hurricanes open their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign against Moana Pasifika at Sky Stadium from 7:05pm, Friday 20 February.