Stanley remains skipper as Stratford Rugby Club looks forward to new season
RICHARD Pepperell believes Tom Stanley will continue to push the standards higher within Stratford’s squad after being confirmed as captain for the 2024-25 season.
Tight-head prop Stanley, who has been at Pearcecroft since the age of six, will remain as skipper, with Dan Whitby and Jonny Smith as vice-captains for the new campaign in Regional Two Midlands West.
Sam Drew will captain the Seconds, with Neil Truscott, James Paterson, and Rory Webb as vice-captains.
Having finished sixth last season, director of rugby Pepperell says the Black and Whites, who started pre-season training on Tuesday, are determined to improve - and the likes of long-serving Stanley lead the way.
“Tom is a huge player for us,” said director of rugby Pepperell.
“He has been with us since he was six years old, he is well respected among all the players and he is one of the first names on the team sheet.
“He would admit he’s not the most vocal of players but he leads by example.
“He is one of a group of lads in their late 20s who are coming into their prime and he is one who drives the standards within the team.”
Pepperell is delighted that Stratford will not face a rebuilding process like they did last summer, and 20 players from last season have confirmed they are staying at Pearcecroft.
The Black and Whites will be looking to add new players, such as players moving to the area, but there is also a pathway for the now-overage Colts to progress into the seniors and some will be involved as pre-season develops.
“We are hoping for a really positive pre-season on the recruitment front,” said Pepperell.
“Last year we knew we were losing quite a few players but this year we seem to have retained all last season’s players. We’re really happy with that and we are hoping for a few players to join us.
“The brightest spot for me is that we have got six or eight of last year’s Colts moving into the seniors. We are a strictly amateur club so we know we need to develop our own players. We’ve had a real focus on the Colts and Juniors and we’re starting to see the fruition of that.”
With the players now back in training, they will have seven weeks of fitness work before the first of three home friendlies.
Stratford welcome Wiltshire side Devizes to Pearcecroft on Saturday 17th August and then meet Gloucester Spartans the following Friday night (7.30pm). The preparations end against Alcester on Saturday 31st August before the opening match of the league campaign at home to Ledbury on Saturday 7th September.
That match has also been earmarked for the first of the club’s past players lunches.
Retained players: Tom Stanley, Gwilym Davis, Zak Amond, Sam James, Dan Whitby, Nath Geekie, Angus Wightman, James Walton, Jonny Smith, Jake Lowe, Ben Cole, Charlie Powell, Michael Dawes, Will Dobbin, Tom Houlahan, Zak Hammersley, Jo Cook, Geoff Dyson, Jack Young, Andy Oliver.