As Cinderford RFC firms up its squad for 2012/13 in a bid to move even higher up the highly competitive National One league, it has announced two key signings in the backs. Former premiership Gloucester Rugby player, Jack Adams joins the Forest club for the new season in a move from Moseley RFC, and Mark Davies from championship side Bristol RFC, comes back to the club to contend for the number ten slot alongside Cinderford’s player of the 2011/12 season, Mike Wilcox.
Jack’s career has seen him play at Gloucester from 2005 to 2009, including a period of dual registration with Moseley, followed by a two-year stint at Bristol RFC before returning to Moseley for the 2011 season. He has also played for England Sevens in 2008.
Impressed with the set up at Cinderford, the 25 year old three quarter likes the ambition and direction of the National One team: “As the second highest club in the county and being local, I was really pleased to enter into discussions with Cinderford and am excited to have agreed terms. I know the coaches really well and many of the players, I look forward to being part of the tight knit squad. Cinderford will allow me to continue playing rugby at a seriously high level and I was motivated by their ambition and desire to not stand still, but grow and move on up after finishing well in mid table in National One this year.”
Mark Davies, fly half, has signed for the club upon leaving Bristol RFC. At 23 Mark was a member of the premiership squad at Gloucester Rugby for one season, after which he played for Lydney and then Bristol. Mark is no stranger to the Foresters having played on loan for Cinderford two seasons ago. “Joining Cinderford will give me the opportunity to play high quality rugby at the National One level. Cinderford had a great season last year and have shown they can compete at the highest levels within the league and I hope I can add to their continued success.”
Head Coach, Dave Pointon is pleased to see another of his former St. Peter’s boys, including Jack Adams, in the side. “Mark will bring us another level of experience and will challenge Mike Wilcox for the number ten slot, following the departure of Rory Teague, giving us a rich pool of talent in selection. Many of the squad have re-signed again and this high retention of players is very encouraging to give us a powerful kick-start to the new season.”
Commenting on the signings, Andy Deacon, Cinderford’s DOR, said: “We are pleased to have Jack and Mark join the squad and strengthen the depth and breadth of our backs. Bringing versatility to the back line, Jack adds experience to the side, and with our aim to secure more tries we plan that both new guys help us to achieve this with their style of play and skillsets. The full squad listing will be announced shortly including further new signings.”
As the 2012/13 squad takes shape and prepares to return to pre-season training at the start of next month, Deacon is upbeat about their readiness for the friendlies ahead of them: “This year we hit the ground running with a high retention of players from last year so we can pick up from where we left off and start the campaign from a position of strength.”
A healthy pre-season fixture programmes kicks off on August 11 with a home game v Llandovery RFC.
On Wednesday 15 August there is an evening game against Old Centralians (KO 7pm), followed by another home game on August 18 v Bridgend RFC. Pre-season draws A double-header local derby on Saturday August 25 sees a 1pm KO v Old Patesians followed by a 3pm game v Hartpury College. Cinderford finished last year’s season with a successful second half to that year that ended in eighth position and saw an increase in gate counts at home games, indicating a positive pick up in attendance and support for the Foresters.