1st XV Player Profiles

Name: Sam Horswill
Nickname: Arseface
Position: Fly Half / Centre/Back Row
Season Joined: 2006/07

Profile: Incoming Club Captain, Sam is a talismanic leader in the side wherever he plays. Strong in the tackle, with good hands and a huge boot. Sam will be one to watch this season.

Name: Tom Skinner
Nickname: SkinDog
Position: Second Row
Season Joined: 2006/2007

Profile: 1st XV Vice Captain, Tom is a beast of a man, standing 6ft8' - although not as tall as Club President, Basil Sayer (according to Basil). Tom's strength in the tight is immense, and his ability to control mauls, and influence games are a real plus for the team. A keen student of the game, Tom is a calm head, with a huge desire to win.

Name: Ian Wyllie
Nickname: Wiggy
Position: Scrum Half
Season Joined: 1996/97

Profile: This will be his second season as club captain and will be looking to build on last season with some good young players and a few returning experienced heads. Likes to dominate round the base of the scrum and attack from the breakdown.

Name: Fraser Knight
Nickname: Mr Vestal
Position: Prop / Hooker / 2nd row / Flanker

Profile: He is a versatile forward who has previously won both players’ player and player of the season. Can play anywhere in the pack, but looks to have made the hookers position his own. Fraser is a consistent performer who likes to get stuck into the dirty work.

Name:Dave Carruthers
Nickname: DC
Position: Tighthead Prop
Season Joined: 2004/2005

Profile: One of the first names on the team sheet, Dave is solid in the tight and dynamic in the loose. Sometimes needs to be reined in a bit but capable of causing damage to the opposition defence.

Name:Matt Warren
Nickname: Wazza / Dubs / Tubs
Position: Prop / 2nd row
Season Joined: 2004

Profile: Matt is a young player who has played for our colts and 2nds in recent years before moving into the 1st last season. Work commitments have reduced his appearances but is both a very popular and able member of the squad.

Name:Mark Anthony
Nickname: Mant
Position: Hooker
Season Joined: 1932

Profile: Predominately a second team hooker but filled in on several occasions last season. His strengths are hooking and throwing at the line out. And knows where all the good pubs are, which is surprising given he’s as blind as an elderly mole with glaucoma.

Name:Paul Carruthers
Nickname: PC
Position: 2nd row / No. 8
Season Joined: 2005/06

Profile: Paul had a great season last year at Number 8, with an extended run in the position. His strength is with the ball in hand, charging at defences. We hope to see him with his knees up and head down, driving through the opposition.

Name:John Glover
Nickname: JG
Position: 2nd Row

Profile: John is our main line out jumper and someone who we rely on to win a lot of ball both our own and the opposition’s. He is very quick and is deadly in broken play with balls in hand. We look forward to seeing a lot of that this season.

Name:Luke Allsopp
Nickname: Sloppy
Position: back row / 2nd row / fly half / centre
Season Joined: 2004/2005

Profile: Suffered two really bad injuries to both shoulder and ankle last season and as a result did not really feature. He is now fit again and I think we will see the best of him this season back amongst the forwards. Big and strong with excellent hands he also has a good rugby brain and will be key in helping the younger forwards develop.

Name:Simon Arbuthnot
Nickname: Animal
Position: 2nd row / No.8
Season Joined: 1993

Profile: One of the older heads his appearances are less frequent but is a great addition to any team either at lock or back row. He is a fantastic line out jumper and a strong ball carrier.

Name: Duncan Nealon
Position: Scrumhalf / Centre / Wing.
Season Joined: 1995/1996

Profile: Another of the older heads who now turns out less often. Duncan's excellent hands and ability to put others in space are welcome additions when on the teamsheet. Less impressive is his ability to be knocked out every other game.

Name:Olly Thorndale
Position: Blind side
Season Joined: 2004/2005

Profile: Played his first full season last year and came on leaps and bounds. Now settled into one position he has become a vital member of the squad. Arguably he is the biggest tackler in the team. Needs to raise his game again this season and should look forward to working with new coach Woody to improve his tight game.

Name:Matt Joyce
Nickname: Joycey
Position: Flanker / Prop / 2nd Row
Season Joined: 2007/2008

Profile: Like Olly played his first full season in the ones last year. And like Olly has shown huge improvement. Originally asked to play in the front row he is more effective on the flank, our quickest forward he scores his fare share of tries. Like Olly needs to learn more about the tight side of the game and then would be an outstanding prospect.

Name:Darren Ariss
Position: Flanker
Season Joined: 1997

Profile: Only played a couple of games last season through work commitments and was a real miss probably our best forward he links the forwards and the backs and usually has the highest tackle count at the end of a game. Looking to be around more this season and will be a massive boost to have him.

Name:Tony Jones
Nickname: TJ
Position: No. 8
Season Joined: 1993/1994

Profile: Another hugely popular and influential player, big, strong and aggressive he is one of the names the other players look for first on the team sheet. Suffered a bit with injury last season we should see him back to his best this season.

Name:Chris Edsall
Nickname: Sharkey
Position: 2nd Row / Back row
Season Joined: 1998

Profile: Chris is another who if we could keep away from injury would be a major asset to the squad. He is good in rucks and mauls and scores a few for a forward. Hopefully this will be the season he shows his undoubted promise.

Name:Jean Visser
Position: Flanker / No.8

Profile: Talented South African who has come from Kenilworth RFC. Unable to train regularly means Kenilworth loss is our gain. Very good in the tight and lose his experience will help his younger forwards develop. Adds much needed competition for places across the back row.

Name:Peter Emms
Nickname: Green Shorts
Position: Hooker / Flanker

Profile: Pete is the other of the rising youngster to come through the colts, his preferred position is hooker but as he is only 17 he has to play in the back row. Made his firs appearance for Claverdon as a substitute against Stow and impressed all those that watched him with his aggression and ball handling, will probably start the season in the 2nds due the quality back row players currently ahead of him in the 1sts. But those that have seen him expect that him to challenge hard as the season progress’s.

Name:Luke Busby
Nickname: Busby, Busbinio
Position: Centre
Season Joined: 1995/96

Profile: Luke has been around the club since he was in short trousers. A real club man and a vital part of the 1st team backs line when available. Work commitments mean he couldn’t play as often as he’d have liked last year, but we look forward to seeing him turning out this season, and putting in some trademark breaks and hits.

Name:Tom Johnson
Nickname: TJ
Position: Centre / Wing
Season Joined: 2005/06

Profile: Now firmly established in the 1st team Tom has often moved from wing to centre last season and has pace to burn, his handling is much improved over the last 12 months and he will be one of the contenders for top try scorer come the end of the season.

Name:Terry Snutch
Nickname: Trisha
Position: Centre / Fly Half
Season Joined: 2006/07

Profile: After a promising start to the season injury and marriage saw him miss the back end of the season, if he returns this year his attacking skills will be a big boost whether he is playing ten or twelve.

Name:Rob Horsfall
Nickname: Arseface
Position: Full Back / Wing / Centre
Season Joined: 2005/2006

Profile: Rob is a handful in any of the three positions above and is strong in the tackle and has good hands and long kick. Scores lots of tries and hopefully a full season will see him challenge for top try scorer.

Name:Dave Ward
Nickname: Wardy / Bignose
Position: Fullback
Season Joined: 2007/08

Profile: New to us last year he burst on to the scene with a debut try. Good under the high ball and loves to attack from deep. Tall and quick Wardy is a real handful. With a full pre season we hope to see the best of him in 08-09.

Name:Paul Daws
Nickname: Dawsey
Position: Full Back / Wing

Profile: Dawsie missed all of last season with a knee injury and was missed. Looking to be available again this season his dynamic running brings a real edge to our attack. When on top form there is no better attacker in the league.

Name:Gregg White
Position: Wing
Season Joined: 2004/2005

Profile: Like Wardy, Gregg is new to the first last year but also burst on to the scene with tries. He is a big powerful runner who often takes two or three defenders to bring him down. We look forward to seeing him run riot through opposition this season.

Name:Steve Grimsley
Nickname: Gunner
Position: Hooker / Wing / Centre / Flanker

Profile: Former 1st team skipper, Steve has moved around the positions over last couple of seasons and is capable of doing a job in any of them. Which is a captain’s dream, over this season he has firmly established the number 2 shirt as his own.

Name:Darren Marsh
Position: Centre

Profile: Darren has been a regular in the 2nds last year after joining during the season. His impressive displays ensured that he was given a run out in the 1sts towards the last few games. Hopefully a full pre season will see him knocking very loudly on the door this year.

Name:Rupert Parkin
Nickname: Big Lad
Position: Wing

Profile: Started last season in the 1’s with a string of man of the match performances, but other commitments meant his appearances become less frequent. Will need to find that early season form to force his way back in.

Name:Rich Gray
Position: Full Back
Season Joined: 1912

Profile: As the older statesman of the backs Richard found himself in and out of the side last year and often covering from the bench. When plays never lets anyone down and whilst not the quickest anymore, he gave some memorable defensive performances last season, memorably against Clee away and Bromyard Away. Now working in a coaching capacity and helping bring on the next generation.
           
Name:Tim Westmacott
Nickname: Old man Wessie
Position: Centre
Season Joined: when in short trousers

Profile: Last season's players' player of the year, Tim is one of the current crop of first teamers to have come up through the minis system. Massively strong in the tackle, with great hands, and an eye for a gap. Tim will once again be one to watch this year.

Name:James Barton
Nickname: JB
Position: Centre / Full Back
Season Joined: when in short trousers

Profile: Another of our former minis, James had an outstanding first season with the 1st XV last season, scoring tries for fun, and thumping the ball the length of the field with his enormous boot. Definitely one to keep an eye on throughout the season.