Justin Tipuric has been named Wales captain for the Autumn Nations Series in place of the injured Dan Biggar.
Biggar was ruled out of Wales’ campaign after suffering a knee injury while on club duty with Northampton Saints last week.
Head coach Wayne Pivac has turned to Tipuric to lead Wales into matches against New Zealand, Argentina, Georgia and Australia next month and the 33-year-old flanker says he is humbled.
“I am honoured and didn’t quite expect it to be honest,” he said.
“I am just happy to get back in the squad and to have the responsibility of leading such a great bunch of boys on to the field is one of those definite highlights of your career.”
Tipuric has suffered injury problems of his own, with a shoulder injury ruling him out of the 2021-22 season and a rib problem this year.
He is in line to win his first Wales cap since the 2021 Guinness Six Nations when Wales open their Autumn Nations Series campaign against New Zealand.
“It’s very exciting to be back at the stadium,” added Tipuric.
“You take it for granted not playing there for a while and I guess when you’re out of the game for a while you look back on it and shows how much you do miss it.
“It’s one of the big things that you miss in rugby and it’s something you want to make the most of whether it’s one more game or 10 more minutes left to play there.”
