Fitzgibbon replaces Long as Hull FC captain

Craig Fitzgibbon will captain Hull FC in 2011, replacing Sean Long as the Black and Whites skipper.

The 33-year-old was handed the role following a meeting of the club’s leadership group during their pre-season training camp in Wales.

Head coach Richard Agar explained that Long wanted to focus on improving his own performances in 2011.

“Sean felt a little disappointed with his year last season and wants to focus on areas within his own game to ensure he is at his best for the team this year,” he told the club’s website.

“As we saw last year, both players will support each other in the role on and off the field, they are great friends and there is no better player than Craig to take over the captain’s duty this season having done it numerous times for us already.

“He is a natural leader, has vast experience and commands the respective everyone, not only at the club, but throughout the world of rugby league and he’ll be a very proud captain knowing it’s a terrific honour to skipper this club.”

Fitzgibbon is one of the most experienced players in Super League and captained his previous club Sydney Roosters.

The former New South Wales and Australia forward said he was honoured to take the armband.

“This is a great honour for me but it’s very much business as usual as far as I am concerned,” he said.

“There is a lot of experience in the squad and everyone players their part in sharing that responsibility so it doesn’t change a lot, particularly as I was lucky enough to captain the team for a number of games last year.”