The Saint Lucia Kings have named the Barbadian all-rounder Roston Chase as their captain for the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, with the franchise confirming the appointment on Thursday ahead of the tournament opener on 9 August. Chase, the current West Indies Test captain, has been a central figure in the Kings squad for several seasons and now steps up to lead the side.
As reported by Trinidad Guardian, the 34-year-old was instrumental in the Kings' title-winning campaign in 2024 and will now look to repeat that success from the front. His link to the franchise goes beyond cricket: although born in Barbados, Chase has family roots on the island, his grandmother hailing from Saint Lucia, the country often called the Fair Helen.
Chase has plenty of history with the Kings in the Caribbean Premier League. He was the tournament's leading run-scorer in 2021 with 446 runs and was named Player of the Tournament that year, a season that cemented his standing among fans on the island.
"It is a tremendous honour to be named captain of the Saint Lucia Kings," Chase said. He added that the franchise had been a big part of his cricketing journey, that he had always enjoyed representing the Kings and playing in front of their passionate fans, and that leading the team was something he was incredibly proud of.
The appointment has the backing of Kings head coach Daren Sammy, the former West Indies captain who has both captained and coached Chase during their time together at the franchise. "Roston has earned the respect of everyone in the dressing room through his consistency, work ethic and selfless approach to the game," Sammy said. He described Chase as a leader by example who understands what it means to represent Saint Lucia, and said he had no doubt about his character or cricketing acumen as the team began another important season.
The news matters beyond the dressing room, because cricket in St Lucia remains the island's great shared passion and the Kings are the team that carries its name across the region. The island is represented in the Caribbean Premier League by the Kings, and live sport is a genuine part of any visit, with sport in Saint Lucia ranging from village football on weekend afternoons to floodlit cricket near Gros Islet.
The Kings open their 2026 campaign on Sunday, 9 August, against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons on neutral ground in St Vincent. Fans will get their first sight of the new captain on home soil when the Kings play their domestic fixtures at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground during the second half of August.
Home matches have traditionally been played in August, which coincides with the school holidays, and a floodlit evening at the Daren Sammy ground is often described as one of the livelier things to do in St Lucia when fixtures are on. The ground fills with music, food stands and cheerful rivalry, and tickets are sold through the league's ticketing platform, with the guide's advice being to arrive at least an hour before play starts. Children are generally welcome, though the age policy attached to each ticket should be checked, which makes a match an easy addition to family holidays in St Lucia.
For visitors arranging holidays to St Lucia around the cricket season, timings matter. Fixtures, dates and ticket details change from year to year, so the guide recommends checking the current schedule before booking flights to St Lucia. Match days also sit alongside other island events, and our guide to St Lucia festivals shows what else is on around the same dates, from carnival season to community celebrations.
The tournament window falls within what many consider the best time to visit St Lucia for cricket lovers, though the wider island offers plenty beyond the boundary rope. Visitors who travel for the CPL often combine match days with the island's natural highlights, from the Pitons on the Soufrière coast to rainforest walks and the beaches of the north-west.
Chase, whose grandmother comes from the island, becomes the latest in a line of leading names associated with the Kings, a franchise that plays its home games at the ground named after Sammy, the first Saint Lucian to play international cricket for the West Indies and the only captain to lift the ICC World Twenty20 trophy twice. Sammy's endorsement carries weight with fans, given his standing in the island's cricketing history.
Attention now turns to 9 August and the meeting with the Falcons in St Vincent, followed by the first home appearances of the Chase era at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. The Kings will hope their new captain can steer them towards a second title in three seasons, and supporters on the island will be watching closely as the campaign begins.
Plan your St Lucia holiday
- Hotels in St Lucia: resorts, villas and boutique stays compared.
- Things to do in St Lucia: from the Pitons to the sulphur springs.
- Best time to visit St Lucia: weather, seasons and prices by month.
- Flights to St Lucia: routes from the UK and what to expect.
- Plan your St Lucia holiday: ask us anything, or send an enquiry.