Stourbridge Rugby Union Preview: Much reason for cheer
OPTIMISM usually abounds at most clubs in pre-season but it is a little more intoxicating at Stourton Park than in previous summers.
Of all the pieces of business done in the region in the off-season, Stourbridge’s formalised link with Worcester offers the greatest potential dividend.
Not only have Stour appointed Warrior legend Tony Windo as head coach and his former team-mate Thinus Delport to run the backs, they now have access to several talented youngsters from the Sixways academy.
Even better, many of the club’s own players will be given the opportunity to train at Worcester, a fact that makes most of Neil Mitchell’s men full-time rugby players.
So while Stourbridge’s budget will be far from the biggest in National One, London Scottish can boast that, the Black Country boys have depth and opportunity beyond their resources.
And everyone there knows it: “There is a great buzz at the club,” says director of rugby Mitchell. “The trick is to get a blend between Stourbridge and Worcester, I think we have done that. Thinus and Tony have come in with the right attitude. They see this as a chance to progress themselves. It is not going to be Shangri-La but we will work through it and it is much better than it would have been without it.”
Especially after ten senior players, such as Adam Billig, Jon Higgins, Ben Gerry and Ben Barkley left the club. Mitchell must now hope his combination of gifted young players and more established National One operators blend in time for the visit of Macclesfield on September 4.
★ IN: Will Davies, Jordan Page (both Worcester), Liam Wordley (Cornish Pirates), Charlie Thomas (unattached), Pete Fitzgerald (Walsall), Chris Derrick (unattached), Will Betts (Bees), Joe Carpenter (Burton), Tim Pickard, Nathan Roy-Smith, Lucas Roy-Smith (all Nuneaton), James Freeman (Worcester), Matt Thomas (Exeter Uni), Matt Bradley (Manchester), Luke Cozens (Portugal), Chris Surman (Cheltenham), Cameron Brown (Loughborough Uni), Charlie Hayter (Nottingham), Ben Geatches, Charlie Fellows (Worcester), Jon Hall (unattached), Simon Frewin (Coventry), Jamie Hearn (Saracens), Thinus Delport (Kubota Spears).
★ OUT: Andi Lawrence (released), Ben Gerry, Ben Barkley, Sam Robinson (all Bees), Harry Collins (Hartpury), Ollie Atkinson (released), Seb Pearson (Coventry), Duncan White (Old Halesonians), Jon Higgins (Dudley Kingswinford), Adam Billig (Malvern).
