Warriors’ commitment to working with schools, clubs and rugby players across the region has been boosted by the appointment of four new Community Coaches.
Matt Jones, Ben Penfold, Jon Perks and Sam Verralls have joined current Coaches Liam Cooper and Sam Johnson in the Community Department to ensure the Club can maximise their community work across the region.
They will be assisting clubs to recruit new players and strengthen coaching structures. In addition they will be looking to compliment Warriors’ Development Player Pathway programme through talent identification.
Matt joins Warriors from the RFU, where he has been coaching as part of the All Schools initiative. He previously graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Sports Physical Education and Coaching Science.
The 22-year-old will take a leading role in developing new programmes for the benefit of the community.
He said: “I am immensely excited about the new role at Warriors. The Club have worked hard to establish strong relationships with clubs from all across the region and I am looking forward to the challenge of developing those even further.”
Ben joins Warriors from Cambridge Rugby Club, where he has worked as a Community Rugby Coach for the last two years.
The 20-year-old currently plays for Cinderford Rugby Club and was previously the captain of the England Counties Under 20s.
As part of his role, Ben will be working with girls and women of all ages and abilities to grow the sport amongst the female community.
He said: “Warriors have come a long way on and off the pitch in the last year so it is the perfect time to join the team.
“Women’s rugby is continuing to grow and we will be looking to take a leading role in developing the sport further and using it as a vehicle to help build a number of life skills.”
Jon, who holds a degree in Sports Coaching from Bath University, joins Warriors from Northampton Saints, where he has worked as a Community Coach and previously did the same role at the RFU for five years. He is also currently the Head Coach of Northampton Old Scouts.
The 28-year-old will oversee the Club’s Coach Education Evenings, where coaches from other clubs are invited to Sixways and Warriors’ Junior Academy Centres to learn more about techniques and strategies they can implement to help their own players progress.
Jon said: “I am delighted to join the Club and will be looking at ways to improve our offerings to coaches from other clubs and arm them with information and ideas to take away. We are confident this initiative will help boost rugby across the region.”
Before moving to Sixways, Sam worked as a Community Coach at both Harlequins and Wasps and also enjoyed a stint at the RFU – roles he combined with a Sports Management and Rugby Studies degree at Buckinghamshire New University.
The 21-year-old will take a leading role in developing the Community Department’s social media channels as well as looking at ways to boost fan engagement on matchdays.
He said: “With all the new projects the Community Department will be running, it is crucial for us to promote these far and wide to ensure as many people as possible are getting involved.
“We will also be trying to engage with people in a way they can relate to, which is increasingly important.”
Community Rugby Manager Steve Joslin said: “The addition of these four coaches allows us to have a greater presence in the community and assist more clubs and schools as all four of them look to develop and grow their individual programmes.
“It is a very exciting time for the Community Department, just as it is for the rest of the Club, and we are looking to move forward and grow our reputation as one of the leading community clubs in the Aviva Premiership.”