Albion all set for the new season
The Bridgwater and Albion Director of Sport- Geoff Sluman has confirmed the coaching team for the upcoming season, and judging from the way that the squad played on Saturday they are already having an impact on what happens on the pitch.
Rob Allen continues as the head coach, Gavin Hancock is the defence and skills coach. Luke Payne is the assistant coach backs and attack while Harry Wilson is coach to the forwards and for set pieces. Harrison Cornish is forwards and squad development coach.
Geoff said: “Each of our coaching team adds their own individual contribution. Rob has gained valuable experience and is a true club man having come through our junior sections and played a lot for our first team whilst we were competing at higher levels. Gavin is similar and played loads of games for us whilst we were at our highest level. Both have transitioned to coaching with ease and talk the players language.
“Luke is a great reader of the game and is technically very strong and has a lot of coaching experience. Harry is a great guy to have around, he is now playing in the Exeter Chiefs squad having moved from Saracens in the off season. Not a very well trodden path, but if you look at Exeter and Saracens then between them they have won the Prem in 7 of the last 10 years so Harry has been exposed to a lot of elite coaching and top-quality playing experience that he is great at passing on to the lads. Harrison is a young coach but is well qualified and has played for every senior side in our club so knows his way around the club. All in, we believe it is a top quality coaching team.
“We always like to provide the best possible coaching for our players. It not only helps existing players but also attracts new players.”
Lewis Plece will be the First XV captain assisted by joint vice captains Jay Owens and Rowan Traynor.
In support of all of the above the First XV manager is Dan Lang with Roger Drabble and Matt Ransom Second XV Managers.
Geoff went on” It is all about the players though and they have been working extremely hard in pre season, generating competition for places and all credit to them as there is a brilliant team spirit across the whole squad and we are all looking forward to the start of the season.
On Saturday the Albion enjoyed their final pre-season friendly against a combined Winscombe and Cheddar XV at the end of which they ran out the comfortable 66-7 victors.
After the match Geoff said: “It was good to finish our pre season with a home fixture. Today was a good test for both our attack and defence and the lads came through well. It was another opportunity to get game time for as many players as we could.
The Director of Sport added: “We are now at the sharp end, the players know that pre season counts for nothing and it is the start of the league next week that really matters. There is a lot of competition for places so the lads are pushing each other on which is great for performance.”
Bridgwater and Albion start their league season with an away match against Bath based side Avon RFC this coming Saturday afternoon.
Match referee Phil de Glanville , the former England captain, signals the try sccred by Jon Hill on Saturday
Category: Club News
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