We have started 1st XV and 2nd XV pre-season training with fitness testing on Thursday July 2nd and then we will be training every Tuesday and Thursday evening and Saturday morning throughout July and the early part of August, before playing our two Pre-Season Matches:
Sat 22nd August v Medway ( Away ) 3 pm
Sat 29th August v 1st XV v Dover ( Home 3 pm ) 2nd XV v Vigo ( Home KO TBC)
Jacob Bacon will be 1st XV captain and Ziggy Stevens Vice - Captain and our aim is for everyone involved in the Senior Squad (1st XV and 2nd XV ) to continue to enjoy our rugby, improve as a squad and individuals and try and get a few more wins and push up the league. We are looking to develop steady improvement year on year.
As a club, we will be working hard to develop our Academy A and B XV, made up of Under 17 and 18 players, introduce a few matches for Development XV, improve the depth of the Senior Squad, so that the 2nd XV can do well and develop more potential 1st XV players and the 1st XV can develop and push up a few more places in the league, whilst still cutting our cloth accordingly and living within our means. This is very challenging in a league where other clubs have a lot of resources, but we are working hard to develop long term sustainability.
We have added Rob Powell to our coaching set up. He will be our attack coach and will be working with us on Thursday evenings and some games. He is an experienced coach who has coached for Cardiff Blues, London Broncos and is currently coaching at Richmond on Tuesdays and some Saturdays, as well as being our Development Coach at the club and also Gravesend Grammar School coach.
We have recruited Cameron Barbour (centre from Wellsford RFC, Northland, NZ) and Robin Foulet (second row/back row from Parc Aix in France). Cameron is Eli's friend and Robin is keen to come over and play for us, as he wants to improve his English. Both will be moving into the club flats along with Jake, when they arrive in mid-August, so please make them welcome.
We are also looking to strengthen our depth in the front row, as well as keeping in touch with Eli, about whether he may be able to return. Eli's club side (Hamilton University) are in the Waikato club final this w/e so we wish him well with that.
Other boys who have walked in and will be good additions to the Senior Squad (1st XV and 2nd XV)are:
Jamie Freeman – prop
Hani Moosavi – prop
James Newman – lock
Thomas Ford- back row
Matt Hewett –no 8
Brad Smith – scrum half
Charlie Cutting recovery from his knee injury is coming along steadily and he is hoping to be back in training in New Year and it would be great to see him get back on the field in the latter stages of the season.
Remus has returned to Romania and Chris Meddings has unfortunately had to retire, due to his knee injury.
The coaching set up for the senior squad has had a couple of changes with Rob Powell’s addition as attack coach and Geoff Marshall coming in as our Strength and Conditioning Coach, as well as continuing to play. It is as below:
Myself, Chris Wilkins -- Head Coach
Malcolm Moaby – Assistant Coach - Defence and skills
Dan Buckland – Assistant Coach - skills and 2nd XV
Rob Powell – Assistant Coach – Attack
Geoff Marshall – Strength and Conditioning
Everyone is looking forward to the season ahead and we are very keen to push on , so we really appreciate all the support from everyone at the club and look forward to seeing you when the season starts .
Wilko