By Tom Little
March 3 2015

Before the league transfer deadline of the 28th February 2015 Coventry Rugby have moved to make 5 signings, both with an eye on the remaining fixtures for this season but also preparing for next season.

Flanker Loti Molitika joins at least until the end of the season after a period on trial. Tongan born Loti was a junior Tongan International in 2008 and attended Hartpury College where he was Player of the Year 2009. Last season he played for fellow National League 1 club Cinderford as well as for Gloucestershire, and since November has been on the books of National League 2 side Chinnor. Standing in at 6ft 2in Loti although preferring blindside flanker also has plenty of experience at No 8, and being called into the Coventry side at the very last moment against Hartpury College made an impressive debut.

Coventry Rugby have maintained their close links with local Premiership side Leicester Tigers  with signing on loan  two Internationals, former All Blacks winger Scott Hamilton and Argentina winger Gonzalo Camacho.

Scott Hamilton aged 34, has already assisted Coventry Rugby in a coaching role this season, won two caps for New Zealand and made no less than 145 appearances for Leicester, and brings a wealth of experience to Coventry Rugby.

Gonzalo Camacho, aged 30 played 23 times for Argentina, but following his move to Leicester Tigers injured his shoulder causing him to miss the whole of season 2013/14 after a series of operations. Back fully fit Gonzalo is looking to get back to regular playing.

Another loan player Darren Waters comes in from Premiership side London Welsh. Before moving to London Welsh this season open side flanker Darren, who is aged 29 was previously at Welsh Regional side Newport Gwent Dragons.

Dual registered player centre Max Clark, who is an England U20’s player comes in from Bath Academy, joining his Bath team mate Beno Obano at Coventry. Matt is aged 19 and capped against Wales at U 20’s this season has also represented England at U-16, 17 and 18 levels.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

2^nd March 2015

Flurry of activity by Coventry RFC before transfer deadline.

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 03/03/2015 16:31

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
03/03/2015 16:31

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Nige H
04/03/2015 00:08

Can someone explain the 2 older loan players? What benefit is it to loan players at this part of the season? I get that we want to look at new players for next season, but surely at least Scott and gonzalo are short term players, not with a view to sign for next season?

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rustyroof
04/03/2015 00:53

To help avoid the season ending on a low note perhaps. A back three of Rundle, Comacho and Hamilton could be worth watching and I'm sure the likes of Knox and Rundle will benefit from playing with them.And, as somebody already mentioned, maybe Scott would be interested in a player/attacking coach position next season. He was quoted as saying he wanted to go into coaching. Cov could be the ideal place to cut his teeth in the context of the current seemingly fairly close Tigers/Cov relationship. Probably wishful-thinking, I know.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:03:04:01:18:45 by rustyroof.

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eggshape
04/03/2015 12:53

I just don't get it dan dom and will then two new wingers we no dan has signed for two year does this mean dom and will have not the wings have produced this year when the team plays well I thought different positions would have been better looked at.

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Spookykid
04/03/2015 13:05

There may also be another aspects that we are looking at next seasons players now?

With any realistic home of promotion now fading, perhaps now is a good time to assess players who may be available at the end of the season.

Plus its always nice to say we have an all black in the team!

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rustyroof
04/03/2015 15:10

the selection for next week and beyond will be interesting. We currently have a large number of good players to chose from.
By my reckoning,
props: Brown, Thorne, Obano, Parkins, Stout
hookers: Price, Sinclair, farnworth
locks: Poole, RVH, Morgan, Wright
Backrow: pailor, Leroux, Milne, Waters, Beckett, Owen, Woodburn, Molitika, Oliver, Joseph
scrum half: Evans, Ferre, Silver
fly half: Jones, Myring
centres: Knox, MacBurnie, Hodgkiss, Clark
wings: Rundle, Hurrell, Lespierre, Camacho
fb: Hodgson, Hamilton, Davies

that's 38 players who I think are fit or nearing fitness. Spoilt for choice in the backrow, centre and back 3.

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bigm/ mark harrison.
07/03/2015 17:35

I find it quite ludicrous to call a Leicester player part of the squad .they aren't , they are add ons to supplement the cov squad .It was wonderful to see milne a true athlete and gifted rugby player who is destined for far bigger things. The problems in certain areas were there for everyone to see last season especially the second row and shortage of cover, should not rely on drafting players in with no integration and lots of pressure on them

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rustyroof
07/03/2015 18:28

Everyone below the prem uses DR players. They are a fact of rugby life at this level. The DR players have made a good contribution on the whole this season and I think most supporters see them as being 'part of the squad'. As for drafting them in with no integration, I assume they take part in training like everybody else.

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