Hanro Liebenberg has made club history after being appointed captain of English club Leicester Tigers for the upcoming 2022-23 season.

The loose forward has made 59 appearances for the club since his debut in September 2019 after joining ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

Liebenberg was appointed vice-captain ahead of last season, in which he led the side on several occasions, and has previous leadership experience after captaining SA U20 in 2015, leading the Junior Springboks in that season’s World Rugby U20 Championship.

Liebenberg is the first South African – and just the second non-English skipper in more than half a century – to be named Leicester Tigers club captain and follows recent skippers Ellis Genge, Tom Youngs and Ed Slater.

The 26-year-old won the Supporters’ Player of the Year award at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.

About his appointment, Liebenberg said: “It is a great honour for me. I know it will be a big challenge but it is a challenge I want to take on.

“I won’t be suddenly changing who I am and the things I have been doing. We must all keep one another accountable and I have asked the boys to do that, to push me and push each other forward.

“You need a captain but it is more than just one person who leads and we have a great group of players here, experienced and younger, who all contribute to setting the standard and leading.

“I am honoured to be named club captain of a club like Leicester Tigers, with such rich history of captains, but just as much to have been given the responsibility in this group with these players.”

Photo: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images