Perrins boosted by new arrivals (From Stroud News and Journal)

Perrins boosted by new arrivals

JERRY Perrins has been appointed as Stroud RFC's new first team captain and the centre is optimistic that the team can emulate last season's success with more honours this year.

He said: "We have got a very good core of players and have a good chance of finishing high this season. But our long term aim is to get the club into the national leagues."

Perrins is in his second spell at the club after leaving Stroud to play for Gloucester's first and second teams in 1990 before returning in 1996.

He has been pleased with pre-season, he said: "We have had lots of really good turn-outs for training and we now have a stronger squad with strength in depth. Our benchmark for the season is the game against Dorcester which we won 39-8.

They finished fifth last season and we came out of that match very well.

"Richard Pascoe and Andre Sharp are both very good coaches and training has gone very well."

The success of last season has led to the arrival of many talented players: "This season we have had some very good players join the club. County player Rob James has joined the club from Matson and scrum-half Lee O'Neill has also signed. "The other new players are Simon Morgan from Lydney and Ian Kennedy and Adrian Hand.

"Adrian played for Gloucester's development team last year and he has already scored two excellent tries. Our new hooker Daryll Turner is very strong and he is learning very quickly", said Perrins.

He is also impressed with the levels of commitment in the rest of the club: "When I come into the club there are sometimes 200 people at the mini's and juniors training sessions. The mini's are tremendous and it's amazing how many people are there."

Perrins is currently injures at the moment with shoulder and hamstring trouble but is hopeful of returning very soon.