Stratford RFC launch recruitment drive ahead of new Regional Two West Midlands season
STRATFORD have issued an urgent SOS for players, fearing a lack of numbers could undermine their endeavours in the new season.
The Black and Whites will be looking to build on their success of the last two campaigns finishing fifth last term in Midlands One (West) to follow being Midlands Two (South) champions.
But eight first-teamers have departed in the summer and director of rugby Richard Pepperell admits they are on an emergency recruitment drive to boost the strength in depth for the new campaign in a restructured Regional Two West Midlands.
Stratford could only name 17 players for Saturday’s friendly 12-12 draw at home to Leamington – Nathan Geekie and Alex Evans with the tries and Gwilym Davis landing one conversion – while Pepperell himself was on stand-by when they had 18 players available for last Wednesday night’s 34-19 win at Gloucester side Spartans.
“We’ve lost eight from the first-team squad from last season and replaced them with two or three but that leaves us down to the bare bones,” said Pepperell.
“Ideally we could do with another five players. If you look at why the players left, it’s all understandable – some have moved away, some have work commitments, and some are in their late 30s and they don’t want to commit that amount of time.
“It’s not because they don’t love the club. The club has got a real focus on the juniors and colts to make sure we have got a conveyor belt of talent coming through.
"The long-term future is bright, with teams from under-17s to under-fives but we need a recruitment drive now to make sure we are competitive in the next few years.”
Stratford have assembled a 25-strong first team group but the rigours of week-to-week rugby plus the inevitable injuries will soon take its toll.
“Any one of those 25 players is capable of winning every game in this league but 25 players isn’t enough,” Pepperell added.
“We probably used 35 players last season. We played 26 league games and we had just three players who played in every game and seven who played 15 or more.
“My coaching team and my medical team are doing everything they can. We plan the workload carefully and look at recovery to make sure we are in the best position but it’s simply a numbers game. We need more.”
Stratford begin the new season at home to Ludlow on 3rd September in a clash between the fifth and fourth placed teams from last term. The three teams above them – champions Lichfield, Kenilworth and Stoke-on-Trent – have all been moved up a level, while Stratford’s new rivals include Evesham, Crewe & Nantwich and Walsall.
For more about joining Stratford, visit the website at https://stratforduponavonrfc.rfu.club/.
