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News
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Knights name full time squad for new season
Although the successor to Clive Griffiths as Director of Rugby is not expected to be decided for a few weeks yet, as a strong list of applicants is being filtered into a short list for final selection interviews, the playing squad has been confirmed and will be effectively a full time operation next season.
Leaving the Club are regular first team members Russ Earnshaw (family relocation), Jason Forster (back to Wales for family reasons), Ben Gollings (to Japan), and Nat Talei (to Premiership Worcester with Griffiths). Also departing are fringe players Steve Barretto, Dan Cook, Ryan Peacey, Michael Wood and Rob Worrincy.
Joining the Club are:
Justin Bishop – from London Irish. He has 25 Irish full caps as well as representing England at Under 21. He joins as a winger and as backs’ coach.
Scott Young – from Ulster. He can play centre or wing. Aged 26 he has been with Ulster since 2001 and was an Irish Under 21 international.
Mark Soden – who played last season in Italy after six seasons with Northampton during which time he made 86 Premiership and European appearances. He is a powerful number 8 aged 26.
Chris Planchant – from Waterloo. He is a powerful and mobile flanker of great potential who previously played at New Brighton.
Two other signings are expected to be finalized shortly, when a Premiership lock completes the signing and medical process; and when an openside flanker is confirmed to fill Jason Forster’s boots.
The squad is also boosted by the return from serious injury of Glen Wilson, who was the outstanding forward of the early season campaign last year. He is fit again and raring to go, having given up a senior job in financial services for the chance of full time rugby.
The 35 man squad will contain just two part time players, both of whom have significant careers outside the Game but who are able to adjust their hours to effectively integrate with the Knights’ squad activities during the week.
The squad returns from holiday on Monday 18th June for initial fitness testing and assessment, followed by pre season training. Justin Bishop will take charge of matters pending the appointment of the new Director of Rugby. Two pre season matches have been arranged with Premiership clubs.
The Knights will travel to Newcastle Falcons on Saturday 18th August, and to Headingley to play back to back 1st and “A” team matches against Leeds on Sunday 26th August. The season opens on 1st September with an away trip to Coventry before starting the home campaign a week later against newly promoted Cornish All Blacks.
An interview with CEO James Criddle to accompany this announcement is being posted as a separate news item.
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