Trip Down Under boosts Warriors bid

Head coach Clive Griffiths has revealed how he met up with some of the leading rugby union and league teams in Australia to try and give Worcester Warriors the edge this season.

Griffiths recently travelled Down Under recently to help Wales reach the semi-finals in the World Student Rugby League Championships.

However, the Warriors boss has admitted he was also busy planning for the new Guinness Premiership campaign and even took time out of his pre-arranged holiday to meet some of the leading teams in Queensland.


“The actual trip to Australia was a long standing engagement which I arranged when I was at Doncaster Knights. I was going out to see my son play in the Student Rugby World Cup but ended up coaching the team, so there was not much of a holiday there,” said Griffiths.


“One of the real positives from my trip was, on my days off, I visited Queensland Reds, watched the Brisbane Broncos train and met up with the Gold Coast Titans coaching staff together with some friends who are coaching in Queensland.


“The Reds visit was particularly fruitful as we watched video clips of matches played under the new laws and a possible link between the two clubs was also discussed. Queensland were very helpful and I chewed the fat with Mark Bell, the forwards coach, for a couple of hours and I know Chris Latham is bringing over some more footage with him.


“The new laws are coming in but Warriors have been doing their homework and I believe we are very close to being on the same wavelength as our Southern Hemisphere counterparts.


“We’ve scrutinised every game out there from the Currie Cup to the NPC and Tri-Nations because you want to be one step of the rest. We have done a lot of video research and match analysis. During the pre-season games we will see what works for us and then hit the ground running come day one in the league.


“I just want the one percents I have brought back to help the team get even better and improve for the massive challenges ahead.”


Griffiths also met with new signing Chris Latham on several occasions before his arrival at Sixways Stadium early next month.


And the Head Coach admits he was delighted by the attitude of the fullback who is out to impress from day one at his new club.


“I met with our new signing Chris Latham and he appears the consummate professional and is raring to go and get across to meet his new team-mates,” added Griffiths.


“Chris knows he only has one chance to make a good first impression and he plans to really show the supporters from the start that he is here to perform and get results for Warriors. He wants to put his stamp down on things and show his value to the team, both on and off the field.


“I also mentioned Chris Pennell to him and he is relishing the opportunity of being a real role model to him and helping bring on his game. Chris Pennell is also looking forward to working with Latham, he is a confident boy and really plans to battle hard for that starting fullback spot.”


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