Back At The Castle
Monday morning and it was business as usual at Castle as the squad returned for the first pre season of the inaugural Rugby Championship. Apart form the Tongan International players Hudson Tonga’Uiha and Toma Toke who are expecting a call up to play for the Pacific Islanders, everyone who was expected back arrived save and sound with only back row Chris Planchant currently injured.
One person not returning is scrum half Jamie Albinson, Lynn Howells commented “Jamie had some great games for us last season, including scoring a try away at Moseley at the death to secure the win. Since his injury last year unfortunately Jamie hasn’t made it back into the squad and we have agreed mutually for Jamie to end his time at Doncaster Knights, he can now try and further his career somewhere else. I have no doubt the lad will find himself another club and wish him all the best for the future”.
The squad also returned to a new Assistant Coach, Brett Davey, who despite having been a player under Lynn Howells for many a season is spending his first time coaching under the watchful eye of his former coach.
“One thing that has please me is the new ideas Brett has already put into he schedule” Howells explained, “I can see the advantages of these things, and the players will respond well.People forget I have never known Brett as a coach, only a player so I am enjoying witnessing a new side to him.”
Another thing the Knights Director of rugby seemed pleased about was the new fitness coach , Scott Pearson, and his regimes. “Having Scott on board means that we are running similar fitness and strength programmes to the ones run in the Premiership and I am confident this will have a positive effect. The first few weeks are all about Scott’s preparation for the season and timing the reaping of the benefits for certain games”
The Knights are planning another possible army camp during pre season, as last year the link up with the 3rd mechanised infantry was deemed a huge success.
