Utah Warriors name Paul Lasike, Bailey Wilson team captains for 2024
The former BYU star and NFL fullback who was Warrior No. 1 before playing overseas with Harlequins will take on a key leadership role, on and off the field.
HERRIMAN, Utah — The Utah Warriors are revamping their leadership structure for Greg Cooper’s second season in Herriman.
Paul Lasike and Bailey Wilson were named team captains, while Joel Hodgson and Caleb Makene will take on vice captain and support roles for the club’s 2024 campaign, the team announced Friday.
“As head coach of the Utah Warriors l am delighted with the quality of people involved in the 2024 player leadership group,” said Cooper. “The new role of club captain couldn’t go to a more deserving and respected person as Paul Lasike. The influence of Paul, Bailey, Joel and Caleb will be critical to the success of the team this coming season.”
Lasike, who played collegiate rugby and football at BYU before a brief career as fullback in the NFL, first signed with the Warriors ahead of Major League Rugby’s inaugural season in 2018. He then signed with Harlequins in England’s Premiership Rugby and made 29 appearances before returning to Utah in 2022, while breaking into play internationally with the USA Eagles.
Wilson, who moved to Utah at 14 and prepped at Lone Peak High with a brief collegiate career at Utah Valley University, will begin his fifth season with the Warriors in 2024 — including each of the past three seasons in a key leadership role.
The native of Sydney, Australia made his USA Eagles debut this past fall.
Originally from Newcastle, England, Hodgson joined the Warriors in 2023 and quickly became the club’s lead flyhalf. He joins Makene, a Warrior since 2022 who has started every game since joining the squad, as a vice captain after opening his career with Hawkes Bay Magpies in his native New Zealand, as well as the All Blacks’ U-20 squad.
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