He played blindside and No 8 for the Highlanders and contributed mightily to a golden era with his strength, mobility and rugby smarts. And, while he was destined to have a difficult time as All Blacks captain, Randell was rightly feted for the leadership of a Highlanders team containing a mix of characters. Taine Cheyenne Randell was, like regular loose forward compadre Josh Kronfeld, a product of Hawke’s Bay, out of Lindisfarne College. He was on a hiding to nothing when he was made permanent All Blacks captain at just 23. He is back in Hawke’s Bay, where he has dabbled in carbon credits and Maori governance, been a director of the Hawke’s Bay Airport, and started a freeze-dried food company.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 05, 2026 17:36 UTC