Piper Duck Is Youngest Wallaroos Captain

The Wallaroos have an­nounced that back-rower Piper Duck will captain the side in Saturday's Test against Fijiana Drua for the 2023 season.

Duck will take over from Shannon Parry, who will lead the side this weekend at Allianz

The flanker is currently nurs­ing a foot injury, however, is expected to take the position against the Black Ferns in Redcliffe on 29 June.

If she does, she will become the youngest captain in Wallaroos history at 22 years, 88 days.

"I was shocked when Jay asked me," said Duck. "I only debuted a year ago -I wasn't expecting to be offered the captaincy, so it caught me off-guard a little.

"It is such an incredible honour to be named captain of the Wallaroos -it's a dream come true, and I feel a great responsibility to these remarkable young women that! Take the field with.

"Shannon is a legend of Aussie Rugby, and of the Wallaroos. It has been such a privilege to play under her, and to learn from her-she is a hero that so many of us younger girls look up to and I can't thank her enough.

I will definitely be leaning on Shannon for advice!"

Duck made her international debut last year against Fiji in Brisbane, playing in ten Tests in 2022. Since then, she has led the NSW Waratahs to the Super W minor premiership as the club's youngest ever captain.

"Piper is an amazing young woman who has an exceptional talent for connecting with oth­ers, and having a positive im­pact on everyone around her," said Coach Jay Tregonning.

"She was an obvious choice for a new captain, and represents the very best that we look for in young people today -she is kind, empathetic, curious, and eloquent and a keen listener.

"She is also fierce, deter­mined and relentless, and I look forward to her bringing more of those traits to this young group.

"I must also thank Shannon for her many years of service as a captain of Australian teams -she is an icon of our sport, and has been really supportive of Piper's selection."

Parry was proud to be handing the mantle to her fellow back­rower, excited to see Duck lead the side into the future.

"Piper is already such a great role model at such a young age everyone in the group looks up to her, and I could not ask for a more appropriate successor as Wallaroos captain," she added.

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Source: rugby.com

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