Being captain is an honour but won't change me - Dombrandt

ALEX DOMBRANDT has vowed captaincy won't change him as a player or a person after being tasked with leading Harlequins this season.

- JON NEWCOMBE

The No.8 has been given the armband after lock Stephan Lewies decided to stand down after four years in the role.

The 27-year-old has deputised for Lewies in the past but other than that his captaincy experience is limited to his school cricket team.

"I am massively honoured and privileged to be named club captain," Dombrandt said.

"Making sure we are all singing from the same hymn sheet and all working to the same goal that we have got is on me.

"We've got a great group of boys, a talented group, and I have got a lot of leaders to lean on as well."

Paying tribute to Lewies, Dombrandt added: "What a great job he did while he was captain. He has put the club in a great position. We have a great relationship, a great friendship and he has been massive for me in terms of being another person who I can lean on.

"I like to think it has been quite a smooth transition. Stepping in while Steph has been injured over the last couple of seasons you get used to being captain and the things that go with that. So I've had that experience.

"I guess there are a few extra responsibilities and the day-to-day running of things and being involved with that. A couple more conversations maybe but on the whole I have tried to keep everything the same and not try to be different and just be myself really.