Worcester name Horstmann as deputy
Kai Horstmann will step forward for the role of vice-captain of the Worcester Warriors after an injury to Matt Mullan.
Horstmann has been at the club for more than five years and coach Richard Hill named him as one of the possible vice captains who would fill the role at the end of last season.
Horstmann is a very experienced player and he should be happy to do a role that he has deserved for a long time. It is very important for Worcester that they have many leaders across the club ahead of what looks set to be the toughest season in Championship history.
The vice-captaincy should mean a number of positives for both Horstmann's game and the club. However, it does mean additional pressure and with Mullan now out for three months, even more people are going to be looking towards this old professional.
Lift
This new role should help lift Horstmann's game. It's the sort of role that many thought he would have got his hands on at an earlier point during his career.
His experience will mean that he can take the extra responsibility in his stride. It will allow him to judge what to do away from the rugby field and it will also allow him to approach younger and inexperienced players at Worcester with more authority.
There will be times when Worcester are up against it during the course of the season. Having a role like this can inspire a player to get stuck in and lead from the front and this could be something that Horstmann does on a regular basis.
He said: "I'm delighted to be asked and massively excited. It's certainly something I am looking forward to doing, in what is a big season ahead for us. It's great that Richard Hill has put that trust in me and I'm looking forward to helping Chris in his role."
Pressure
Being captain or vice-captain of a club always brings additional pressure on a player. When things go wrong it will be up to players like Horstmann to step forward and be accountable for mistakes and errors.
This will place extra stress and pressure on Horstmann to an extent that he may never have experienced before during his playing career. These are not pleasant things to cope with on a regular basis and they could easily take their toll over the course of a season.
He added: "We're all pleased that he has got the captaincy [Chris Pennell]. He is a great character and really leads by how he plays and trains. That makes life a lot easier for us, we are very lucky in that respect, we have a huge amount of experience right through the squad. The boys will get behind him, he is a vastly experienced campaigner for this club and it means a lot to him."
Betting advice
Horstmann should have a very beneficial effect over the whole Worcester team. Good leaders mean that a team can stay tight and well organised during big games and this makes them much more difficult to beat.
Worcester are one of the favourites to win the Championship and get Premiership promotion and they are worth a bet if you think they can do it. They have the correct balance in their side and Horstmann will step up as vice-captain now that Matt Mullan is out of action until Christmas time.
He will enjoy this role and he may even get a few points during the season. However, always be cautious when backing older players to top the scoring charts.
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