The final pieces of the Young Yabbies’ rebuilding season are in place with the announcement of former player James Shannon and current first grade captain Aaron Seaman as joint first grade coaches for 2014.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Joining the coaching panel for 2014 is club icon and life member Mick Hudson who will captain-coach second grade while Jayson “Castrol” Smith will take the helm of Under 17s.
Greg Coles and Liam Skinner have been named as first and second grade managers respectively, with Wally Everdell Under 17s manager.
The selection of a strong mix of experienced former and current players in the coaching ranks under the gaze of director of coaching Luke Eldridge sends a clear signal that the Yabbies mean business in 2014.
First grade coach and local physiotherapist Shannon says the opportunity to help bring an attractive, hard-edged brand of rugby back to the Yabbies was too good to pass up.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity and can sense a real ground swell in the community to lift the club back to the winners’ circle after the disappointment of the 2013 season,” he said.
“We will be focusing on the simple things around the set piece of the game and trying to rebuild the reputation of the club as a hard to beat club across all grades.”
Shannon will be well complemented by hard-running forward Aaron Seaman who will again lead from the front of the pack next season.
The Yabbies management committee has made a point for next year that it must take it up to the bigger clubs in the Southern Inland Rugby competition which are reflected in the coaching selections.
“The new committee has been working hard in the offseason to rebuild the club’s administration and the naming of such a strong coaching and manager line-up was an important part of the puzzle,” club president Ben Reid said.
The newly appointed coaches met on Tuesday night to commence plans on an assault on the SIRU competition in a bid to bring silverware back to the Cherry Capital.
Club training will begin in the first week of February with pre-season touch football already under way at Cranfield Oval on Thursday evenings from 6.30pm.
Second grade captain-coach and recruitment manager Mick Hudson encouraged current, former and potential players to dust off the rugby gear and be part of an “exciting period in the club’s history” as it transforms itself into a competitive outfit.
“The Yabbies is a broad church and we encourage anyone in Young or elsewhere who wants to play great rugby and be part of the community to join us in 2014,” Hudson said.
