‘Jim’ handed leadership role with Highlanders

The appointment of blockbusting Mako winger Timoci Tavatavanawai as co-captain of the Highlanders for Super Rugby Pacific certainly raised some eyebrows.

There is no doubting the physical prowess of the man, known in rugby circles as Jim, but he brings very little captaincy experience to the role, which he will share with Hugh Renton, and fills a position rarely associated with a leadership role.

Jim admitted he was somewhat surprised when advised of his new role last week by head coach Jamie Joseph.

“I wasn’t really expecting it,” said the man whose previous captaincy role was with his school side in Fiji.

“But I’m very grateful for the opportunity to lead the team,” he said, “it’s an honour to be chosen.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge, it puts me out of my comfort zone … I’m not a big talker so I will just lead with my actions, just concentrate on playing my footy and set a good example.”

Jamie, another man with Tasman connections, emphatically endorsed his leadership choices, saying, “Jim and Hugh embody the qualities we are looking for in our leaders – passion, commitment and the ability to inspire others with their actions or words … I believe they will complement each other well”.

Interestingly the only previous Highlanders skipper from the outside back division was Ben Smith, appointed co-captain with Nasi Manu in 2014, the duo going on to win the title alongside Jamie a year later.

Nowadays, Ben and Nasi are among the Highlanders’ wider coaching personnel, providing handy sounding boards for Jim as he comes to grips with the leadership role.

“We have got the mana from the man himself [Jamie], plus Nasi and Ben as coaching staff … so they will all be a big help,” added Jim.

The powerhouse winger’s absence was keenly felt by Tasman at the back end of their recent NPC season, the Mako losing a couple of crucial matches when he was sidelined with a knee injury.

He says his rehab has been going very well and he has resumed full training.

“It’s been a long journey … that was certainly not the way I wanted the Mako season to end, but that is footy,” he added.

Now he can look ahead to the Super Rugby campaign and a chance to work closely with Hugh, a person he admires and played alongside at Tasman.

He says there is a good feeling in the Highlanders camp, with everyone “working their arses off every day” during pre-season preparation.

“We have got a great group of intelligent young men down here, off the field we get on really well with plenty of golf, hunting and fishing and exploring the outdoors … that is the way we connect.

“We have also got a really good fan base who love this team and the region, so it all helps.”

Their first hit out is against Moana Pasifika in a pre-season match on January 31, then they open their 2025 season against the Waratahs in Sydney two weeks later.

Captain Crusader

Jim and Hugh are not the only men with Tasman connections to be handed the reins of Super Rugby sides this season, with David Havili being named captain of the Crusaders, completing a South Island quinella.

David succeeds Scott Barrett, who held the Crusaders’ captaincy for the past four years.

“I was sounded out about it before going away on the All Blacks end of year tour, and had two or three weeks to think about it,” said David. “I discussed it with my close circle of friends and the Crusaders leadership group and, of course, I accepted it.

“I will have lots of support from Scott and Cody Taylor and other good people around me. I have filled in as captain for the Crusaders eight of 10 times over the years and it sems to bring out the best in my game,” he suggested.

David’s 128 appearances in Red and Black rank him as the fifth most capped back behind Ryan Crotty (157), Andy Ellis (155), his good mate Mitch Drummond (143) and Dan Carter (141).

He would probably have been over 150 by now but for bowel surgery in the 2020 season, a torn hamstring in 2023 and a broken shoulder blade last year.

He's confirmed he will be playing in the midfield this season, insisting the Crusaders have plenty of options at first five.

David led the Tasman Mako to back-to-back NPC titles in 2019-20.