Team Annoucements for 2024/2025 Season

It is at this time of year we like to say a huge thankyou to players who are moving on to pastures new and welcome the new players to the club.

This year we have signed numerous players:

Jolby Beech joins after being in Australia for over a year and comes with a first class pedigree having been player BUCS Super Rugby at Leeds Beckett. He has previously played at Stourbridge and Old Halesonians and is a very different player to most of our forwards, for those with good memories he is far more in the Tony Diprose mould than a Billy Vuinapola having wonderful skills which should open our attack up greatly. The added bonus is he has brought his younger brother with him Dylan, who also looks a fine 2nd row/backrow prospect.

Ethan Keenan joins from Kidderminster having been their standout player for a number of years. He is strong and powerful with good core skills, he has all the ingredients to be a 1st XV player for a long time once we sharpen up his lineout skills.

Jamie Constantine joins from Moseley Oak and adds depth to our front row. He is a dynamic ball carrier with a fantastic work rate,  a good defender and solid set piece. He again has been a standout player for Moseley Oak and I expect him to challenge hard for a starting place in the team.

On top of these new recruits we also see a number of players step up from last years colts, Bobby King was last years Colts Captain, playing North Midland’s U18s and Midland’s U18s, he has trained well in pre season and looks a great prospect, as has Harrison Osborne, and James Harrison.

Whilst it is always a shame to say goodbye to a few players that is the nature of modern rugby. At the level our 1st XV play we can’t promise 1st XV rugby to anyone and I understand why some just want to take it less seriously because we do demand a lot of our players. Cam McCann leaves with our best wishes after two injury ravaged seasons. Cam is heavily involved in Hydrox competition so rugby is going to take a back seat for a while as he joins Woodrush. Callum Megram, came down from Oldham and has been a solid player for a number of seasons playing regularly in both the 1st and 2nd XV, and again leaves with our best wishes to join Moseley Oak..  Alex Wilkinson has moved down to London and joined Saffron Waldron RFC. Alex had a wonderful season last year and we wish him the best. Drew Harper joins Stourbridge after his 2nd spell at Finstall Park.

Special mention though must go to Bobby Green who has been a rock during my time at the club. Bob has played over 200 games for the 1st XV becoming an excellent technician as a tight head prop. He has been a superb scrummager and wonderful lineout lifter which are the cornerstones for any team. I think Bob would be the first to admit that since the birth of his son Beauden his commitment has dropped and like other great players such as Kev Salisbury before him he has had to admit defeat in his quest for 250 1st XV caps and has decided to go and play close to home at Alcester RFC. Playing though would only be a small part of Bobby’s contribution to the club. He has always volunteered to do unseen work, such as putting the roof on the extension free of charge or doing other jobs that have needed doing. He’s helped with sponsorship and other bits along the way. Another thing that many don’t realise is that Bob has not taken a penny in payment from the club (bar a couple of pair of boots he stiffed me for!) which is so refreshing in the modern rugby landscape. Like all larger than life characters Bob has had his moments of madness, but once you get past the bravado especially after 20 pints there is a very caring, deeply passionate man who I am saddest of all to lose as I consider him a great friend. He obviously goes with my blessing but I’m very hopeful we will see him in the red and blacks hoops again even if only for the mighty Crusaders, I’m sure Martin will get on the case!!!

Good luck to all and we look forward to seeing them soon.

Kind Regards

Dan Protherough
DOR