Boss Mike Ruddock believes his wing wonders are starting to hit top gear in the Guinness Premiership – after expert training from a top speed coach.
Director of Ruddock has revealed his wide boys, such as Miles Benjamin, Marcel Garvey and Rico Gear, have all clocked impressive times as the season starts to hot up.
And he admits the work of Birchfield Harriers coach Tony Hadley, the man who made international stars of Du’aine Ladejo and Derek Redmond, has proved vital.
“The speed work we’ve been doing with our speed coach Tony Hadley has definitely benefitted Miles, Marcel Garvey and Rico Gear,” he said.
“These guys are all hungry to play and be successful and that’s a nice headache for me to have.
“The Rico Gear factor has also been a big part of seeing that competition being intensified. When you take a step back and have a look at the Rico impact at Worcester, it has certainly bought the best out of Marcel and Miles. I’m a very fortunate director of rugby to have three players playing to that quality
“If you look at where Marcel was three or four years ago, people were saying he had slipped back a bit after having a great arrival on the scene in Gloucester. However, over the last year or two, whenever Marcel gets the ball, you realise something spectacular could happen and he can score tries. Rico has helped to engender that in terms of the competition he has brought to the team.
“Miles burst onto the scene in his first season, but was a bit quieter last year and, on reflection, perhaps I didn’t give him as long off that summer as perhaps I should have. He had played for England Under 20s at the World Cup and then was straight back to pre-season with us with just two weeks off.
“He probably needed to freshen up just a bit more than he did and I probably got that one wrong. However, he’s had a good off-season this year and has come in fresh and hungry.”
Ruddock has also revealed how keen former New Zealand international Gear is to force his way into the team with Benjamin and Garvey currently occupying the wing spots.
“Rico has been a little bit unlucky because he played well against Doncaster, but he missed the Dragons game with a thigh injury, which gave the other lads the chance to stake a claim,” said Ruddock.
“That thigh injury has counted against him, but he’s training really well at the moment. I’ve been through all his gym scores and his speed times with him and compared those to the other boys and there are a lot of good things in there which are putting pressure on me to have a look at him quickly.
“Having said that, the other two guys haven’t really put a foot wrong since they’ve had the starting jerseys, so it would be a bit unfair to leave them out, but all-in-all, it’s given me a nice selection headache.
“Rico is ready to show us what he can do – all his speed test times and everything about the way he is training tell me that he can give a very good performance. It is just a case of when because it would be tough to leave out Miles or Marcel at the moment.
“I’m sure Rico will get his chance before long and as and when that happens – if that is this weekend or not – he has got to show us what a world-class player he is. He is determined to do that.”