RUDDOCK COACHING MASTERCLASS KICKS OFF NEW SESSION AT MALVERN RFC
Malvern Rugby Club commenced training for the new season yesterday, 1st July, with a session led by Worcester Warriors chief Mike Ruddock. David Robins, Malvern’s Director of Rugby, said “This is a great honour for us, as Mike has obviously coached at the highest level, and our lads are extremely excited at the prospect of learning from the best. We forged links with Worcester’s Academy last season, with Tim Streather and George Crook coming to Malvern for invaluable match experience, and we see Mike’s session with our squad as recognition that we have become Worcestershire’s top junior club, with much to offer in terms of player development. As I have stated before, we are happy to be a feeder club for talent which is destined for higher level rugby. I know one or two other clubs locally have seen this as a pitch to take on their better players, but this isn’t the case – our belief is that talent should be developed, and as a club Malvern has never stood in the way of any player wishing to reach greater heights in his career, whether by coming to Malvern or any other higher rated club. We have fed players to Stourbridge, Patesians and Bristol, amongst others over the last few seasons, and in return have been able to benefit from players with National League experience joining us. The fact that Mike Ruddock has felt able to offer his services is an illustration of the cooperation in player development in this area which we hope will become an increasing part of our game.”
Robins did have one less positive piece of news to report. “Nick Tisdale, who has been such a great influence as forwards coach over the last two seasons, has taken a new job in Lincolnshire, so will be leaving Malvern. We owe him a great debt of gratitude for the incredible amount of work he put in to upping our levels of forward play, a major factor in our winning the league last year.
We now look for a new man to coach our pack, perhaps as player/coach, to replace Nick and work along with Andy Longley, who looks after the backs.”
Regular training resumes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.00pm at Spring Lane, and new players of all abilities are always welcome at Malvern RFC.
