SKIPPER Luke Milton will wear his heart on his sleeve in Malvern Rugby Club’s rebuilding season in Midlands Two West (South).

That’s the view of Malvern’s director of rugby Dave Irish, who has returned to Spring Lane this summer to help lay new foundations.

Malvern have suffered back-to-back relegations and travel to Old Leamingtonians tomorrow (3pm) for their league opener.

Irish said: “Full-back Luke Milton is the new captain for this season. Luke is a top-quality player and can also slot in at fly-half.

“He’s been at the club for the past four or five seasons and is a very committed player who has got the respect of all the lads.”

Irish has brought in George Withers, Alex Brazier and Ben King from Tenbury and says they will be vying for places in the first team.

“I don’t know too much about this side of the league,” admitted Irish, who had a stint as director of rugby at Ludlow. “I am more familiar with the northern part of the division.

“But the majority of the sides in this section are from the Coventry area and I am sure there will be some very competitive teams.

“We are very much looking forward to the new season. We had a good pre-season and have some serious competition for places.

“We have a mixture of young and experienced players in the first team and are looking to put out three sides on a Saturday for the first time in a number of years.”

Irish has been delighted with the input of former Worcester Warriors backroom staff member Billy McGinty, who has been doing the majority of coaching throughout pre-season.

Irish ran the rule over ‘six potential first-team players’ who turned out for a Malvern development side in a 19-15 defeat at Hereford seconds last weekend.

“It was a very good game to watch — Malvern had a few early injuries which disrupted our set-piece,” said Irish.

“I saw six potential first-team lads in the development side and we are trying to organise things as a club as opposed to just a first team.”

Irish, who lives near Tenbury, is delighted to be back at the club.

“I started playing for Malvern when I was 17 or 18 and turned out for them on Sundays when I captained Worcester colts,” he recalled.

“When I moved back to the area in 1997, I played for Malvern until 2005 and had a season as first-team captain.”

Malvern will host Old Yardleians in the North Midlands Shield quarter-finals.