All Black to captain Highlanders

Smith will be fresh off his sabbatical when the teams kick off the season, after foregoing the All Blacks end-of-year tour to spend some quality time with his family in Dunedin and rest the body and the mind after a huge 2017 Super Rugby and International year. 

Dixon has rejoined the Highlanders this week for pre-season training after successfully leading the Maori All Blacks Northern end-of-year tour.

Both players are senior members of the squad and lead by example both on and off the field and we can't wait for the 2018 Season to kick off.

The Highlanders take on the Blues in the very first Super Rugby game in New Zealand for the 2018 season on February 23.