Coach all smiles as new laws add spice

8:00am Thursday 21st August 2008

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KIDDERMINSTER Carolians RFC head coach Dave Irish believes that rule changes to the game may yield an exciting season in the Midlands Division Three West (South).

The new experimental variation laws have been introduced by the IRB to help favour the attacking teams and make the sport more accessible to spectators.

As a result KCs’ squad have had the added task of learning the new rules as well as gaining their fitness for the coming season.

Irish, who starts his second season in charge of team affairs on Marlpool Lane, is confident that the squad will be well versed in the alterations and that it may even help them.

The new rules include giving teams more space at the scrum and also forbid defensive minded sides going backwards and kicking for territory in the opposition half.

“We are still getting used to the changes in the new rules,” said the head coach.

“They’re designed to make the sport more open and it should be interesting to see how they work.

“The lads are getting usd to them and we’re always trying to play more attacking rugby, so hopefully we’ll be able to use them to our advantage.”

The coach has set himself and his charges the target of a fourth place finish for the coming season and to build on a mid-table position in the previous campaign.

The club have retained the same squad which did so well in the second half of the previous season and have also strengthened with one or two new additions.

Irish said: “Training has gone very well. All the players are coming together and we’re shaping up very well.

“We have managed to keep the squad that did so well last season together and have added a few more new faces so I am hopeful that we can do okay.”

If KCs are to secure a top four finish then it may be because of the number of derbies their league rivals face over the course of the season.

The division is packed with teams from around the Coventry and Warwickshire area, while KCs only have two Worcestershire derbies against Droitwich.

“There are a lot of teams from the Coventry area and hopefully they will drop points in a lot of the derbies, which will allow us to sneak up the table unnoticed,” commented the coach.

“We finished in mid-table last season and I believe we have to aim for fourth place. Finishing in that position would represent a good season for us.”

KCs step up their preparations with friendlies against Old Hasowenians and Pershore, before starting the season away at Old Coventrians on Saturday, September 13.

The club have added a 10 metre touchline area to the first team’s pitch, which will make it eligible for representative rugby and home junior internationals.

Once again the Romanian club side Bucharest could use Marlpool Lane as a training ground after being drawn against Worcester in the European Shield.

The club, which prepared for last season’s clash at Sixways in Kidderminster, have been invited the to use KCs’ facilities.

KCs are also aiming set up a ladies team and anyone interested can call the club on 01562 740043.