New season, New Coaching Team, New Knights
Jan 1, 2021 10:50:00 GMT
Mundiz and Sean O'Loinsigh like this
Post by Jamie Crawford on Jan 1, 2021 10:50:00 GMT
New season, New Coaching Team, New Knights
New Season:
It has been announced that Championship rugby will recommence on Saturday 6th March, so this might be a little premature. No doubt there will be further announcements before 6th March. Nevertheless, it gives us something to look forward to a happier 2021.
At least the announced start date gives Steve Boden (Bodes), the new Director of Rugby a target to plan for in terms of fitness and pre-season games to arrange. It also gives the team an extended break over Christmas to recharge their mental batteries. There’s no point the team continuing to aim to be in peak fitness for a possible mid-January start if the start will be about seven weeks later.
This season will unsurprisingly be vastly different. “Operating under the elite sport framework, the Greene King IPA Championship league will be split into two conferences. Teams will play home and away within their conference producing 10 competition rounds, subsequent to which there will be a two leg play off final between the winner of each league to determine the team that will earn promotion to the Gallagher Premiership for the 2021/22 season.
The conferences will be determined by standings when the 2019/2020 season ended in March 2020; with Saracens taking the place of Newcastle Falcons and Richmond replacing Leeds Carnegie.
Therefore, the two Conferences will be:
Conference A:
Saracens, Cornish Pirates, Ampthill, Jersey Reds, London Scottish, Hartpury
Conference B:
Ealing Trailfinders, Coventry, Nottingham, Bedford Blues, Doncaster Knights, Richmond.” (DRFC website)
Surely a Sarries v Trailfinders final will be the bookies favourite.
Although we are fortunate to not get Saracens in our Conference, we will miss seeing and playing against (for the players) some elite English players. These include Mako & Billy Vunipola, Elliot Daly, Jamie George, Maro Itoje & Owen Farrell to name just half a dozen of the many players that have or are currently represent(ed/ing) England. One of the Vunipola’s younger cousins, Manu Vunipola also plays Fly-Half.
We mustn’t forget that Ealing Trailfinders, (in our conference) came second to the Falcons last season after only losing two games all season and they were both to Newcastle. Put another way; none of this season’s teams Championship beat Trailfinders last season.
As Yorkshire’s only remaining second tier (rugby divisions tier) club, the Knights are fortunate to be a full-time club at a time when other clubs are struggling for finances and must tighten their belts.
New Coaching Team:
Knights’ incoming DoR and ex-Knight hooker, Bodes has recruited sensibly and he started early to make use of the down-time created by Covid-19. Better deals were available early as many more players than usual became available for transfer. Bodes aimed to get a younger, extremely ambitious squad. With that said about the increased availability due to the Covid-19 lock-down, it has also created more problems than usual. Return to playing rugby has also created early unique issues such as:
Not knowing when the rugby season would start.
Will there be contact?
If so how much contact will be allowed?
Must the support staff wear masks?
How many support staff will be allowed on/by the pitch?
Must each player have his own water bottle?
How much contact will be allowed for injuries, especially the less serious ones that say require a little physio?
Answers to these questions and many others became apparent as the start of the season neared but they were unknowns for a while.
Nathan Smith has joined as Forwards Coach from Loughborough Students. Bodes recognised Nathan’s rising talent as a Coach when he coached some student Forwards to be recruited by professional teams. Bodes and Smith have worked closely together whilst in Leeds, so each knows how the other operates.
Former Leicester Tigers & Sale Sharks fly half Joe Ford joined the Knights as Backs Coach. Joe’s father Mike Ford is the Attack Coach at Leicester Tigers, so could this be the formulation of a ‘partnership of sorts’ with the Tigers? Put another way, could it be an ‘in’ for the Knights to gain loan players from the Tigers? “…Bodes believes that Joe will bring a fresh energy to the coaching set up and is extremely pleased to secure his services. “I’ve known Joe for a while having coached him at Leeds Carnegie…” (rugbypass.com) Another ready-forged working relationship.
Joe will form part of the new look coaching staff that comprises Director of Rugby Steve Boden, Strength & Conditioning Coach Dougie Flockhart, Forward Coach Nathan Smith, Backs Coach Joe Ford and Head of Performance Analysis Burhan Torgut. An exciting new coaching team together with some exciting current players that have remained plus the following new players:
New (look) Knights:
Bodes has stated that the coaching team are looking for adaptability in their style of play. They can adapt to differing opponents and perhaps alter the style of play during a game to either nullify a threat or increase their strength and menace in attack. The Knights aim to play at a high pace with great mobility. In Bodes’ squad update in June on our website he essentially reiterated the corner pins of the coaching teams’ vision for the players and style of play for next season. A younger squad, all with great ambition and the team must be adaptable in their style of play to essentially reduce predictability from the opposition.
“You don’t know what they’re going to do next”, would be something the Knights would like opposition teams to utter in frustration.
Bodes is quoted in the Free Press, “You don't get many people like Matt Challinor any more… (Chall was voted in the Green King IPA Championship team of the season with Robin Hislop) and Bodes looks forward to seeing how the DRFC Academy home-grown talent progresses. Doncaster Phoenix and Senior Academy Back Row Allan Hudson is joining the Knights this season reconnecting with Doncaster Academy players Will Holling and Sam Pocklington, who have already had a season playing full time rugby with the Knights in the Championship.
Sam Jones was the first academy player to become a professional Knights player in the 2018/19 season after impressing in the 2017/18 campaign. Sam has suffered too many concussions and is not playing rugby for a while until the specialists deem it safe for him to return to play. Meanwhile the club have employed Sam as DRFC Community Coach within Club’s community foundation – Doncaster In Union. Working under the guidance of Rugby Development Director and ex-Knight Glen Kenworthy (Kendo), Sam’s role will be to engage schools and junior clubs across the region as the club looks to expand the Knights’ reach and impact in local communities. “Sam will have complete access to the Castle Park medical department and will have a clear path back to the first team should his progress make that possible.” (DRFC website)
During the interview Bodes refused to be pressed into setting a league position to aim for or to be above next season for good reason. He posed the question, ‘what if you ended the season one place below what you aimed for by one point; do you then think that you’ve failed?’
Bodes believes more in process than outcome and there was a wry smile as it seems that the players made fun of Bodes over that late last season. Overall, he wants to keep communicating to the supporters but has his hands tied about player movements until deals have been finalised. We can all look forward to some exciting rugby this season where we are still strong in the set-piece but will have many varied sequences of attack.
Last season’s Player of the Season was Robin (Bomber) Hislop, named in both The Rugby Paper & Greene King IPA Championship Teams of the Season, The Scotsman took 28% of the public vote with lock Matt Challinor in second place & fly half Sam Olver third. That may be part of the reason that Bomber was asked to play for Saracens on loan.
Winger Kyle Evans won our own try of the Season. Kyle scored a hat trick against Jersey at Castle Park, two of his try-scoring efforts were shortlisted for the Try of the Season. It was the opener from that game (Try C) that received almost 50% of the total vote.
New players are:
1. James Kane: The 24-year-old Utility Back has moved back to England after spending 12 years in Australia.
2. Mark Best: Northern Irish Centre, 26, who came through the ranks at Ulster and joined from Jersey.
3. James Mitchell: 25-year-old Scrum Half who featured for Northampton in the Premiership and Champions Cup. James played on loan for Chester and for
Rotherham Titans, so James might be known to a few supporters. He then moved to Northampton Saints last season.
4. Conor Joyce: Back Row, 26, another arrival from Jersey. Conor played for England U16 and later for Irish Exiles, Youths, U18, U19 and U20, he captained Ireland
U20s.
5. Sam Graham: Another player to arrive from a Premiership club. The 22-year-old joined from Bristol and can play across the Back Row.
6. Billy McBryde: Fly-Half, 22, last season’s top scorer in the Welsh Premiership with RGC 1404. RGC1404 are the regional representative team for the North Wales
Rugby Development Region. Billy represented Wales at U20, 18 and 16 levels. Billy is the son of ex-Wales assistant coach Robin.
7. James Newey: 22-year-old Centre, again from Jersey, ex-Bristol. James should already have a Centre playing partnership with Mark Best.
8. Jack Davies: Cardiff-born Back Row, 24, who has represented Bristol and Bath.
9. Joe Jones: 24-year-old Tight-Head Prop who made 29 appearances for Sale Sharks.
10. George Roberts: Hooker, 22, from RGC 1404. Enjoyed a breakout campaign last term.
11. Jack Spittle: Winger, 25, signed from Nottingham. Named in The Rugby Paper’s 2019/20 Team of the Season.
12. Jack Rouse: 24-year-old Back Row/Lock signed on loan for the season from Ealing Trailfinders. It’ll be unusual for Jack when we play Trailfinders.
13. John Kelly: Second Row, 24, from Plymouth Albion. Represented England Counties. John played for England Counties on their Georgia tour last summer.
14. Gareth Denman: 28-year-old Tight-Head Prop forward from Coventry. Ex-Carnegie, Rotherham Titans, Northampton Saints for 4 years, Gloucester and Coventry.
Gareth represented England v Barbarians in 2014/15.
15. Harry Strong: 23-year-old Centre from Nottingham Rugby.
16. Tom Bacon: 19-year-old Utility Back on loan from Wasps Rugby.
17. Will Britton: 24-year-old Lock on a one-year deal from Bath rugby.
18. Guido Volpi: 25-year-old Back Row on a one-year loan from Ospreys.
“Fans will be familiar with Volpi, who first appeared at Castle Park on loan in January 2020. The Argentinean quickly established himself as a starter, featuring in wins over London Scottish and Jersey.” (DRFC website)
Guido’s addition makes the Knights squad size 31 with an average age of 25 years old (thanks MartinC on the Forum).
Tom Hill and James Wayland signed but have now been released from their contracts, understandably wanting to return home (NZ & Oz respectively) with the imposed Covid restrictions.
2020/21 Knights Squad
Size – 31 (inc. 1 Academy Player) AVERAGE AGE - 25 Years
Name Position EQP? Contract Duration Age
Andrew Foster Prop (Tight) Y 2nd of 2 Years 27
Joe Jones Prop (Tight) N 1 Year 24
Gareth Denman Prop (Tight) Y 1 Year 29
Robin Hislop Prop (Loose) Y Retained 2 Years 28
Ben Hunter Hooker Y Retained 1 Year 32
George Roberts Hooker Y 1 Year 22
Will Holling Hooker Y Retained 1 Year 23
Matt Smith Lock Y 2nd of 2 Years 30
Matt Challinor Lock Y Retained 1 Year 36
Will Britton Lock Y 1 Year 24
John Kelly Lock / Back Row Y 1 Year 24
Conor Joyce Back Row Y 1 Year 26
Sam Graham Back Row Y 1 Year 22
Jack Davies Back Row Y 1 Year 24
Jack Rouse Back Row Y 1 Year 24
Guido Volpi Back Row N 1 Year Loan 25
Allan Hudson Back Row (Senior Academy) Y 1 Year (?) 21?
Reiss Cullen Scrum Half Y 2nd of 2 Years 24
Sam Pocklington Scrum Half Y Retained 1 Year 22
James Mitchell Scrum Half Y 1 Year 25
Billy McBryde Fly Half N 1 Year 22
Sam Olver Fly Half Y 2nd of 2 Years 25
Charlie Foley Fly Half / Centre Y Retained 1 Year 29
Mark Best Centre Y 1 + 1 Year 26
James Newey Centre Y 1 Year 22
Harry Strong Centre Y 1 Year 23
Tom Bacon Centre / Wing / Fullback ? 1 Year Loan 19
Kyle Evans Wing N 2nd of 2 Years 28
Jack Spittle Wing Y 1 Year 25
Howard Packman Wing / Fullback Y Retained 1 Year 25
James Kane Fullback / Wing / Centre Y 1 Year 24
(Martin C on Donny Knights (Unofficial) Fan Forum)
Unfortunately, the between-season break (this time extra-long) involves saying goodbye to some current players. Our website recorded some of their attributes.
Departing players: Cameron Cowell, Colin Quigley (Rotherham Titans), Curtis Wilson (Nottingham Rugby), Dan Suter (back to NZ?), Fotu Lokotui (Glasgow Warriors), George Edgson (Jersey Reds), Jack Roberts (Jersey Reds), Lloyd Hayes (Titans), Marc Thomas (Harlequins), Michael Hills (retired), Morgan Eames (Beziers), Penikolo Latu (Southland Stags, NZ), Rory Pitman (returned to Jersey Reds after a short-term loan), Steve Mccoll, Tom Calladine (Sheffield Tigers), Tom Hicks (retired), Tom James (Northampton Saints), Wian Conradie (Dallas Jackals). The best of luck and our thanks to all departing players.
The consensus of opinion on the Knights unofficial Forum is that Bodes has recruited well and everyone is looking forward to a season of exciting rugby, especially after the enforced absence of any rugby throughout the World. Bodes has been true to his word and recruited skillful, young players that can adapt to different positions and styles of play - youth and flexibility.
The Rugby Paper’s Championship Dream XV
15. Kyle Moyle (Cornish Pirates)
14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
13. George Wacokecoke (Newcastle Falcons)
12. Calum Patterson (Cornish Pirate)
11. Jack Spittle (Nottingham)
10. Shane O’Leary (Nottingham)
9. Will Homer (Jersey Reds)
1. Robin Hislop (Doncaster Knights)
2. Alun Walker (Ealing Trailfinders)
3. Alec Carey (Jersey Reds)
4. Brett Beukeboom (Cornish Pirates)
5. Sean Robinson (Newcastle Falcons)
6. Jordy Reid (Ealing Trailfinders)
7. John Hardie (Newcastle Falcons)
8. Ryan Burrows (Coventry)
Green King IPA Championship team of the season
15. Tom Arscott (Newcastle Falcons)
14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
13. Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas (Bedford Blues)
12. Will Owen (Coventry)
11. Sinoti Sinoti (Newcastle Falcons)
10. Rory Jennings (Coventry)
9. Josh Barton (London Scottish)
1. Robin Hislop (Doncaster Knights)
2. Antonio Harris (Coventry)
3. Oisin Heffernan (Nottingham Rugby)
4. Matt Challinor (Doncaster Knights)
5. Jordan Onojaife (Ealing Trailfinders)
6. Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons)
7. Joe Bercis (Ampthill Rugby)
8. Seb Nagle-Taylor (Hartpury)
14, Adam Radwan (Falcons) and 1. our Robin (Bomber) Hislop were the only two players to be named in both teams of the season.
During his big interview with Mike Casey, Steve Lloyd mentioned that the Championship will be roughly a 50:50 split between full-time professional clubs and part-time semi-professional clubs. The degree of semi-professionalism varies but one would hope that the Knights will end the season at least in the upper half given that we are fully professional thanks to Steve and Tony.
Two other major points to take-away from the interview for Knights supporters and look forward to were to welcome Griff back for a proper goodbye and to look forward to an exciting brand of rugby.
Wishing all a healthy & happy New Year.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
New Season:
It has been announced that Championship rugby will recommence on Saturday 6th March, so this might be a little premature. No doubt there will be further announcements before 6th March. Nevertheless, it gives us something to look forward to a happier 2021.
At least the announced start date gives Steve Boden (Bodes), the new Director of Rugby a target to plan for in terms of fitness and pre-season games to arrange. It also gives the team an extended break over Christmas to recharge their mental batteries. There’s no point the team continuing to aim to be in peak fitness for a possible mid-January start if the start will be about seven weeks later.
This season will unsurprisingly be vastly different. “Operating under the elite sport framework, the Greene King IPA Championship league will be split into two conferences. Teams will play home and away within their conference producing 10 competition rounds, subsequent to which there will be a two leg play off final between the winner of each league to determine the team that will earn promotion to the Gallagher Premiership for the 2021/22 season.
The conferences will be determined by standings when the 2019/2020 season ended in March 2020; with Saracens taking the place of Newcastle Falcons and Richmond replacing Leeds Carnegie.
Therefore, the two Conferences will be:
Conference A:
Saracens, Cornish Pirates, Ampthill, Jersey Reds, London Scottish, Hartpury
Conference B:
Ealing Trailfinders, Coventry, Nottingham, Bedford Blues, Doncaster Knights, Richmond.” (DRFC website)
Surely a Sarries v Trailfinders final will be the bookies favourite.
Although we are fortunate to not get Saracens in our Conference, we will miss seeing and playing against (for the players) some elite English players. These include Mako & Billy Vunipola, Elliot Daly, Jamie George, Maro Itoje & Owen Farrell to name just half a dozen of the many players that have or are currently represent(ed/ing) England. One of the Vunipola’s younger cousins, Manu Vunipola also plays Fly-Half.
We mustn’t forget that Ealing Trailfinders, (in our conference) came second to the Falcons last season after only losing two games all season and they were both to Newcastle. Put another way; none of this season’s teams Championship beat Trailfinders last season.
As Yorkshire’s only remaining second tier (rugby divisions tier) club, the Knights are fortunate to be a full-time club at a time when other clubs are struggling for finances and must tighten their belts.
New Coaching Team:
Knights’ incoming DoR and ex-Knight hooker, Bodes has recruited sensibly and he started early to make use of the down-time created by Covid-19. Better deals were available early as many more players than usual became available for transfer. Bodes aimed to get a younger, extremely ambitious squad. With that said about the increased availability due to the Covid-19 lock-down, it has also created more problems than usual. Return to playing rugby has also created early unique issues such as:
Not knowing when the rugby season would start.
Will there be contact?
If so how much contact will be allowed?
Must the support staff wear masks?
How many support staff will be allowed on/by the pitch?
Must each player have his own water bottle?
How much contact will be allowed for injuries, especially the less serious ones that say require a little physio?
Answers to these questions and many others became apparent as the start of the season neared but they were unknowns for a while.
Nathan Smith has joined as Forwards Coach from Loughborough Students. Bodes recognised Nathan’s rising talent as a Coach when he coached some student Forwards to be recruited by professional teams. Bodes and Smith have worked closely together whilst in Leeds, so each knows how the other operates.
Former Leicester Tigers & Sale Sharks fly half Joe Ford joined the Knights as Backs Coach. Joe’s father Mike Ford is the Attack Coach at Leicester Tigers, so could this be the formulation of a ‘partnership of sorts’ with the Tigers? Put another way, could it be an ‘in’ for the Knights to gain loan players from the Tigers? “…Bodes believes that Joe will bring a fresh energy to the coaching set up and is extremely pleased to secure his services. “I’ve known Joe for a while having coached him at Leeds Carnegie…” (rugbypass.com) Another ready-forged working relationship.
Joe will form part of the new look coaching staff that comprises Director of Rugby Steve Boden, Strength & Conditioning Coach Dougie Flockhart, Forward Coach Nathan Smith, Backs Coach Joe Ford and Head of Performance Analysis Burhan Torgut. An exciting new coaching team together with some exciting current players that have remained plus the following new players:
New (look) Knights:
Bodes has stated that the coaching team are looking for adaptability in their style of play. They can adapt to differing opponents and perhaps alter the style of play during a game to either nullify a threat or increase their strength and menace in attack. The Knights aim to play at a high pace with great mobility. In Bodes’ squad update in June on our website he essentially reiterated the corner pins of the coaching teams’ vision for the players and style of play for next season. A younger squad, all with great ambition and the team must be adaptable in their style of play to essentially reduce predictability from the opposition.
“You don’t know what they’re going to do next”, would be something the Knights would like opposition teams to utter in frustration.
Bodes is quoted in the Free Press, “You don't get many people like Matt Challinor any more… (Chall was voted in the Green King IPA Championship team of the season with Robin Hislop) and Bodes looks forward to seeing how the DRFC Academy home-grown talent progresses. Doncaster Phoenix and Senior Academy Back Row Allan Hudson is joining the Knights this season reconnecting with Doncaster Academy players Will Holling and Sam Pocklington, who have already had a season playing full time rugby with the Knights in the Championship.
Sam Jones was the first academy player to become a professional Knights player in the 2018/19 season after impressing in the 2017/18 campaign. Sam has suffered too many concussions and is not playing rugby for a while until the specialists deem it safe for him to return to play. Meanwhile the club have employed Sam as DRFC Community Coach within Club’s community foundation – Doncaster In Union. Working under the guidance of Rugby Development Director and ex-Knight Glen Kenworthy (Kendo), Sam’s role will be to engage schools and junior clubs across the region as the club looks to expand the Knights’ reach and impact in local communities. “Sam will have complete access to the Castle Park medical department and will have a clear path back to the first team should his progress make that possible.” (DRFC website)
During the interview Bodes refused to be pressed into setting a league position to aim for or to be above next season for good reason. He posed the question, ‘what if you ended the season one place below what you aimed for by one point; do you then think that you’ve failed?’
Bodes believes more in process than outcome and there was a wry smile as it seems that the players made fun of Bodes over that late last season. Overall, he wants to keep communicating to the supporters but has his hands tied about player movements until deals have been finalised. We can all look forward to some exciting rugby this season where we are still strong in the set-piece but will have many varied sequences of attack.
Last season’s Player of the Season was Robin (Bomber) Hislop, named in both The Rugby Paper & Greene King IPA Championship Teams of the Season, The Scotsman took 28% of the public vote with lock Matt Challinor in second place & fly half Sam Olver third. That may be part of the reason that Bomber was asked to play for Saracens on loan.
Winger Kyle Evans won our own try of the Season. Kyle scored a hat trick against Jersey at Castle Park, two of his try-scoring efforts were shortlisted for the Try of the Season. It was the opener from that game (Try C) that received almost 50% of the total vote.
New players are:
1. James Kane: The 24-year-old Utility Back has moved back to England after spending 12 years in Australia.
2. Mark Best: Northern Irish Centre, 26, who came through the ranks at Ulster and joined from Jersey.
3. James Mitchell: 25-year-old Scrum Half who featured for Northampton in the Premiership and Champions Cup. James played on loan for Chester and for
Rotherham Titans, so James might be known to a few supporters. He then moved to Northampton Saints last season.
4. Conor Joyce: Back Row, 26, another arrival from Jersey. Conor played for England U16 and later for Irish Exiles, Youths, U18, U19 and U20, he captained Ireland
U20s.
5. Sam Graham: Another player to arrive from a Premiership club. The 22-year-old joined from Bristol and can play across the Back Row.
6. Billy McBryde: Fly-Half, 22, last season’s top scorer in the Welsh Premiership with RGC 1404. RGC1404 are the regional representative team for the North Wales
Rugby Development Region. Billy represented Wales at U20, 18 and 16 levels. Billy is the son of ex-Wales assistant coach Robin.
7. James Newey: 22-year-old Centre, again from Jersey, ex-Bristol. James should already have a Centre playing partnership with Mark Best.
8. Jack Davies: Cardiff-born Back Row, 24, who has represented Bristol and Bath.
9. Joe Jones: 24-year-old Tight-Head Prop who made 29 appearances for Sale Sharks.
10. George Roberts: Hooker, 22, from RGC 1404. Enjoyed a breakout campaign last term.
11. Jack Spittle: Winger, 25, signed from Nottingham. Named in The Rugby Paper’s 2019/20 Team of the Season.
12. Jack Rouse: 24-year-old Back Row/Lock signed on loan for the season from Ealing Trailfinders. It’ll be unusual for Jack when we play Trailfinders.
13. John Kelly: Second Row, 24, from Plymouth Albion. Represented England Counties. John played for England Counties on their Georgia tour last summer.
14. Gareth Denman: 28-year-old Tight-Head Prop forward from Coventry. Ex-Carnegie, Rotherham Titans, Northampton Saints for 4 years, Gloucester and Coventry.
Gareth represented England v Barbarians in 2014/15.
15. Harry Strong: 23-year-old Centre from Nottingham Rugby.
16. Tom Bacon: 19-year-old Utility Back on loan from Wasps Rugby.
17. Will Britton: 24-year-old Lock on a one-year deal from Bath rugby.
18. Guido Volpi: 25-year-old Back Row on a one-year loan from Ospreys.
“Fans will be familiar with Volpi, who first appeared at Castle Park on loan in January 2020. The Argentinean quickly established himself as a starter, featuring in wins over London Scottish and Jersey.” (DRFC website)
Guido’s addition makes the Knights squad size 31 with an average age of 25 years old (thanks MartinC on the Forum).
Tom Hill and James Wayland signed but have now been released from their contracts, understandably wanting to return home (NZ & Oz respectively) with the imposed Covid restrictions.
2020/21 Knights Squad
Size – 31 (inc. 1 Academy Player) AVERAGE AGE - 25 Years
Name Position EQP? Contract Duration Age
Andrew Foster Prop (Tight) Y 2nd of 2 Years 27
Joe Jones Prop (Tight) N 1 Year 24
Gareth Denman Prop (Tight) Y 1 Year 29
Robin Hislop Prop (Loose) Y Retained 2 Years 28
Ben Hunter Hooker Y Retained 1 Year 32
George Roberts Hooker Y 1 Year 22
Will Holling Hooker Y Retained 1 Year 23
Matt Smith Lock Y 2nd of 2 Years 30
Matt Challinor Lock Y Retained 1 Year 36
Will Britton Lock Y 1 Year 24
John Kelly Lock / Back Row Y 1 Year 24
Conor Joyce Back Row Y 1 Year 26
Sam Graham Back Row Y 1 Year 22
Jack Davies Back Row Y 1 Year 24
Jack Rouse Back Row Y 1 Year 24
Guido Volpi Back Row N 1 Year Loan 25
Allan Hudson Back Row (Senior Academy) Y 1 Year (?) 21?
Reiss Cullen Scrum Half Y 2nd of 2 Years 24
Sam Pocklington Scrum Half Y Retained 1 Year 22
James Mitchell Scrum Half Y 1 Year 25
Billy McBryde Fly Half N 1 Year 22
Sam Olver Fly Half Y 2nd of 2 Years 25
Charlie Foley Fly Half / Centre Y Retained 1 Year 29
Mark Best Centre Y 1 + 1 Year 26
James Newey Centre Y 1 Year 22
Harry Strong Centre Y 1 Year 23
Tom Bacon Centre / Wing / Fullback ? 1 Year Loan 19
Kyle Evans Wing N 2nd of 2 Years 28
Jack Spittle Wing Y 1 Year 25
Howard Packman Wing / Fullback Y Retained 1 Year 25
James Kane Fullback / Wing / Centre Y 1 Year 24
(Martin C on Donny Knights (Unofficial) Fan Forum)
Unfortunately, the between-season break (this time extra-long) involves saying goodbye to some current players. Our website recorded some of their attributes.
Departing players: Cameron Cowell, Colin Quigley (Rotherham Titans), Curtis Wilson (Nottingham Rugby), Dan Suter (back to NZ?), Fotu Lokotui (Glasgow Warriors), George Edgson (Jersey Reds), Jack Roberts (Jersey Reds), Lloyd Hayes (Titans), Marc Thomas (Harlequins), Michael Hills (retired), Morgan Eames (Beziers), Penikolo Latu (Southland Stags, NZ), Rory Pitman (returned to Jersey Reds after a short-term loan), Steve Mccoll, Tom Calladine (Sheffield Tigers), Tom Hicks (retired), Tom James (Northampton Saints), Wian Conradie (Dallas Jackals). The best of luck and our thanks to all departing players.
The consensus of opinion on the Knights unofficial Forum is that Bodes has recruited well and everyone is looking forward to a season of exciting rugby, especially after the enforced absence of any rugby throughout the World. Bodes has been true to his word and recruited skillful, young players that can adapt to different positions and styles of play - youth and flexibility.
The Rugby Paper’s Championship Dream XV
15. Kyle Moyle (Cornish Pirates)
14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
13. George Wacokecoke (Newcastle Falcons)
12. Calum Patterson (Cornish Pirate)
11. Jack Spittle (Nottingham)
10. Shane O’Leary (Nottingham)
9. Will Homer (Jersey Reds)
1. Robin Hislop (Doncaster Knights)
2. Alun Walker (Ealing Trailfinders)
3. Alec Carey (Jersey Reds)
4. Brett Beukeboom (Cornish Pirates)
5. Sean Robinson (Newcastle Falcons)
6. Jordy Reid (Ealing Trailfinders)
7. John Hardie (Newcastle Falcons)
8. Ryan Burrows (Coventry)
Green King IPA Championship team of the season
15. Tom Arscott (Newcastle Falcons)
14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
13. Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas (Bedford Blues)
12. Will Owen (Coventry)
11. Sinoti Sinoti (Newcastle Falcons)
10. Rory Jennings (Coventry)
9. Josh Barton (London Scottish)
1. Robin Hislop (Doncaster Knights)
2. Antonio Harris (Coventry)
3. Oisin Heffernan (Nottingham Rugby)
4. Matt Challinor (Doncaster Knights)
5. Jordan Onojaife (Ealing Trailfinders)
6. Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons)
7. Joe Bercis (Ampthill Rugby)
8. Seb Nagle-Taylor (Hartpury)
14, Adam Radwan (Falcons) and 1. our Robin (Bomber) Hislop were the only two players to be named in both teams of the season.
During his big interview with Mike Casey, Steve Lloyd mentioned that the Championship will be roughly a 50:50 split between full-time professional clubs and part-time semi-professional clubs. The degree of semi-professionalism varies but one would hope that the Knights will end the season at least in the upper half given that we are fully professional thanks to Steve and Tony.
Two other major points to take-away from the interview for Knights supporters and look forward to were to welcome Griff back for a proper goodbye and to look forward to an exciting brand of rugby.
Wishing all a healthy & happy New Year.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
