Trio back for pre-season (From Ledbury Reporter)

Trio back for pre-season

7:40am Friday 13th July 2012 in Sport

THREE players returned as Malvern welcomed a big turn-out to their first preseason training session of the new campaign.

With almost all of the 2011- 12 squad retained, the town rugby club welcomed back prop Dominic Murphy after his New Zealand sojourn.

Fly-half Cameron Pimlow, a former Worcester Warriors academy member, has rejoined after playing at university and in the higher reaches of Welsh rugby.

Wing Matt Jones also comes back to the club after a year out recovering from ankle surgery.

Director of rugby Liam Hughes announced Matt Williams would be first XV captain with Nick Miller as his deputy. He outlined the club’s goals for the new season, which sees Malvern face new opposition in the South West Division following their transfer from the Midlands.

Hughes also gave details of the pre-season matches, starting with a mixed squad game against Worcester Wanderers on Tuesday, July 31, at Spring Lane.

The first XV travel to Stourbridge for an evening game on Thursday, August 9, and have another away match under lights at Sutton Coldfield on Thursday, August 16. A final mixed squad game at home to Hereford on Thursday, August 23, winds up the pre-season before the league opener at home to Exmouth on Saturday, September 1.

The Devon side finished strongly in third position last season, so will prove a stern opening test and a benchmark for the style of rugby played in the south-west.

The development XV open their North Midlands Reserve League campaign at Burton, while the third XV begin their Merit Table term against Hereford at Wyeside.

Senior mid-week Malvern training is at Spring Lane from 6.45pm until 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and all players are welcome.

􀁥 David Campese, the mercurial Australian wing with 101 caps, will be Malvern’s first lunch with a legend speaker of the season. The 49-year-old is to star at the pre-match lunch before the club face Redingensians Rams on Saturday, October 20, which kicks-off at 3pm.

For more information go to pitchero.com/clubs/malvern rfc and tickets can be secured by calling Phil Rawle on 07850 545271 or George Roberts on 07500 123008 or also by emailing captain1@malvernrfc.co.uk