Rugby Auckland style - a 15-man game with eight chiefs

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland will use a communal captaincy system involving eight "team leaders" in this year's NPC.

And coach Pat Lam says the arrangement will remain in place even when All Black No 8 Xavier Rush, who has led Auckland and the Blues to titles, returns.

Lam revealed the new system yesterday after naming a 26-man NPC squad minus 10 test players.

Lam reiterated that his squad's All Blacks were free to miss as many NPC games as they liked if they needed rest. And his radical approach doesn't end there.

Lam says he may name a different captain - whose duties include dealing with the referee - each week from the pool of eight.

Angus Macdonald and Charles Riechelmann, who led the Ranfurly Shield defences last week, are among the leaders.

Lam would not reveal the other six.

He based the system on that used by his old Northampton coach Ian McGeechan, who had a group he dubbed the "magnificent seven", although McGeechan also named a long-term captain.

Lam said: "I believe in creating a situation where all players are very clear about the big picture.

"It's not left to a captain or first-five to make a decision ... that's what we're doing for tactics and it's exactly the same off the field as well.

"There are eight leaders who will run the team.

"Instead of the management or coaches dealing with issues, it's best driven by the senior players and team leaders.

"As a player I found that more effective. I don't remember this being used when I came through New Zealand rugby but I've modified Ian McGeechan's system slightly.

"I'm not just here to help players enjoy and develop their rugby, but also help them as people with things like leadership they can use after rugby."