Rocky Elsom was on Tuesday confirmed as captain of the Waratahs for the 2012 Super Rugby season.

A world-class flanker and renowned leader, Elsom led

The 28-year-old returned to New South Wales this season, having previously represented the state on 66 occasions between 2003 and 2008, scoring ten tries and winning the 2007 Matthew Burke Cup for Waratahs Players’ Player of the Year.

“We have spent the past months in discussions with senior players in an effort to determine the best man for the job," said Waratahs coach Michael Foley

“There will never be a perfect replacement for retired skipper Phil Waugh, however after defining the role and what it was the players expected and wanted from a captain, Rocky was the stand out candidate.”

With 66 Super Rugby caps, Elsom is the 17th most capped Waratah in Super Rugby history.

He was named as the 76th captain of Australia by coach Robbie Deans upon announcement of his squad for the 2009 end-of-year tour. His first Test as captain came against New Zealand in Tokyo in October 2009 and his last was against South Africa at Durban in 2011.

In his 24 Tests at the helm, Australia won 13, lost 10 and drew one. Under his leadership, Australia recorded a record win (59-16) over France in Paris in 2010. The Wallabies also won on the highveldt in South Africa for the first time in 47 years in 2010.