captain's run

English

Alternative forms

• Captain's Run

Noun

captain's run (plural captain's runs)

1. (originally rugby union, Australia) a team training session led by the captain rather than the coach, typically held shortly before a match, often at the match venue, sometimes incorporating a photo opportunity
   • 1999 October 23, John Hopkins, “Australia dismiss Henry's praise”, in The Times, number 66653, London, page 39:

     ON the Friday before an international these days, most rugby teams have a light training session supervised by the captain. The Australians call it the captain's run, and in light rain in Cardiff yesterday morning John Eales led his team-mates through their moves, the last physical preparation for the quarter-final against Wales at the Millennium Stadium this afternoon.

   • 2002 October 18, Alan Solomons, quoted in Gerry Thornley "Ulster must lift their game" The Irish Times p. 21:

     "It's been a very difficult week," admits Solomons. "We had a light run on Tuesday, what I would call a 'flush out', and a captain's run today. That's really all we could do."

   • 2007, Paul Sculthorpe, Sculthorpe: Man of Steel‎^[1], Random House, →ISBN, page 7:

     After that, the rest of the week was a breeze — I even did the full wrestling session with the lads on the Wednesday, went through the 'captain's run', which is always a bit light-hearted anyway, and then it was just a case of running through the game plan and various plays.

   • 2016 June 14, Damian George, Netball: Superstition part of match-day routine Otago Daily Times

     8.45am - Head to stadium for captain's run

     9am - Captain's run

     "We always do a walk through. Wendy [captain Wendy Frew] runs it. ["]

   • 2023 February 4, “Sacked coach Eddie Jones launches cunning trick to stay in the heads of English players ahead of crucial Six Nations Championship”, in Daily Mail, picture caption:

     Finn Russell juggles rugby balls during the Scotland captain's run at Twickenham Stadium ahead of their Six Nations match against England

   • 2023 February 4, Luke Yates, quoted in James O'Brien, "Huddersfield Giants captain Luke Yates outlines reasons for renewed optimism ahead of new season" Yorkshire Post

     "We'll have fewer short turnarounds so we'll have fresher bodies; a lot of times last year we were playing, two days off then the captain's run and playing again.["]