Cinderford have confirmed the signing of loose-head prop George Porter from Championship club Ealing Trailfinders and have appointed him as First XV Captain for the 2016/17 season in place of Hartpury-bound Mike Wilcox.
The Gloucester-born 27-year-old played all of his junior rugby at Matson where his father Gary and brother Tom still play. He progressed into the Matson 1st XV as a teenager before joining Lydney and also represented England Under-18s and Gloucestershire Under-20s sides going on to win the age-grade National County Championship at Twickenham in 2008 against Yorkshire.
He was captain a year later in 2009 when Gloucestershire repeated the feat. In those two seasons Porter worked with current Cinderford director of rugby Paul Morris, who was the Gloucestershire head coach at the time.
Porter left Lydney for Plymouth Albion in 2009 and under the tutelage of Graham Dawe for two seasons he flourished. In season 2010-11 he started every league game for Albion in the Championship. From there he was signed by Premiership club Worcester Warriors in 2011. Porter made several appearances for Worcester both in the Premiership and Championship and also had loan spells back at Albion and Nottingham. In 2015, Porter signed for Ealing Trailfinders and had two games on loan for Cinderford in February this year. Porter decided to leave at the end of the 2015-16 season with a desire to cement his roots back home in Gloucester.
Morris said “George is a quality signing for us. At only 27 he has already accrued a wealth of playing experience and this will be vital to our rebuilt squad for next season.
“He is the right man to lead the First XV on the pitch next season and, together with newly-appointed Club Captain Rob Winchle, they form a formidable and enthusiastic leadership duo.
“George will set standards for other players and I am sure he will prove to be a popular appointment. He will bring fresh ideas to what will be a re-energised group of existing and new players.”