Former vice-captain, Ed Jenkins, has been named captain of the Australian Sevens team for the Sevens World Series 2011/12 and will lead the team for the first time on home soil.

Jenkins will make his debut as skipper when the side kicks off the new series with the inaugural Gold Coast Sevens tournament on November 25-26 at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.

The most experienced of the youthful Australian Sevens side, Jenkins has been part of the Aussie team since making his debut in Wellington in the Sevens World Series 2007/08 and last year served as the sides vice-captain behind the recently retired, Bernard Foley.

Jenkins, who played in all eight of the Sevens World Series 2010/11 tournaments, said he was honoured to have been awarded the captaincy and looked forward to leading the Australians out on home soil to kick off the new series.

He said: "It is one of the highest honours any sportsperson can have, to lead your country on the international stage, and I am very proud to have been given the opportunity.

"Being able to play my first game as captain on home soil, in front of family and friends will be fantastic and I know I'll be doing everything I can to help deliver a successful start to the new series," added Jenkins

Australian Sevens coach, Michael O'Connor, said Jenkins was the natural choice to skipper the side this season.

"Ed has been a strong leader within in the group for a couple of years now and showed great maturity last year as vice-captain behind Bernard [Foley]," O'Connor said.

"Since coming into the Australian Sevens squad almost 5 year ago, Ed has really matured both as a player and a leader, which is one of the reasons why he will do a very good job as captain of the Australian Sevens side this season," he explained.

Australian Rugby Union {ARU) managing director and CEO, John O'Neill, congratulated Jenkins on his appointment and said the Gold Coast had really embraced the excitement of the inaugural Gold Coast Sevens event.

"Ed has proven to be a great on field leader over the past few seasons and I know he will make a very good captain who will lead the side strongly throughout the Sevens World Series 2011/12," O'Neill said.

"The Gold Coast is known around the world as a fun and vibrant destination and I have no doubt it will kick-off the Sevens World Series 2011/12 with a great amount of excitement and energy."