NSW Waratahs and Wallabies scrum-half Jake Gordon admits he was taken aback by rumours linking him to the next Australian captaincy, focusing on proving his fitness after suffering a hamstring injury.
Gordon was suggested as a potential leadership option for the three-Test Lions series, with the scrumhalf selected for the 36-player squad to face Fiji.
Watch every match of the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
The Sydney Uni product has plenty of experience with the Waratahs but wasn’t publicly buying into any talk of taking on further national responsibility.
“I've heard nothing,” he said to reporters.
“I think at the moment Harry [Wilson] did a really good job last year.
“The discussion came from nowhere. If you look at our team, there's numerous amounts of guys who have leadership qualities, a lot of guys who have captained our state teams and internationally.
“I think the captaincy chat was all made up.”
Gordon still needs to overcome a hamstring injury in time for the Test against Fiji in just over a fortnight in Newcastle.
It came off the back of a knee injury midway through the season, limiting him to just seven appearances in 2025.
“It was a weird one, the way it happened. A frustrating year with injuries,” Gordon admits.
“I'm really happy to be in the position I am to have the opportunity to play in some big games coming up.
“The rehab is improving and it's definitely on the way to getting back to 100 per cent.”
The last time the Lions were in Australia, Gordon was part of the pre-game match activities playing in the curtain raiser.
Now, the scrumhalf has his own ambitions of being the main event.
“I've spoken openly about how much I enjoyed the international season last year. I feel like I'm in a good spot,” he added. “I don’t think you can’t not be excited for what’s coming.
“I remember I played the curtain raiser to Game 3. We did a Sydney Uni vs. World Barbarians Uni team and there was probably only 30,000 people in the crowd by that time. It was still quite early in the night.
“These are epic games and ones you really want to be involved in.”
