Exiles Double Act With A Five-year Masterplan
The Rugby Paper|August 13, 2017

NICK VERDIER meets the new men charged with leading London Welsh’s revival.

Exiles Double Act With A Five-year Masterplan

The John Dawes suite at Old Deer Park is adorned with memorabilia from the bygone age when London Welsh were the finest club side in the land, if not the world.

They boasted luminaries of the game – 43 British Lions in total including JPR, Merve the Swerve, John Taylor and Dawes himself. But that all seems a long, long time ago as the club embark on their recovery mission from the depths of Herts and Middlesex 1, the ninth level of English rugby.

The club’s dalliance with Premiership Rugby finally cost them. Big time. After years of financial troubles, the sword of Damocles hanging over them came down on January 24, forcing the dissolution of the professional team.

Seven months on and 31-cap Welsh Grand Slam winner Sonny Parker and former Ospreys prop Cai Griffiths are the new men in charge, determined to lead the club back to “where it belongs”.

The club maintained their amateur side, as well as supporting a highly popular minis section on Sunday mornings, and the ambition to take the club back to the top is clear in new leaders Parker and Griffiths.

“I came very close to going back to New Zealand but Pete Lowe, the club’s treasurer who is part of the new board, called me and asked me to hang around,” said Parker, the newly appointed director of rugby and only man remaining from the professional set-up.

“A couple of month later, he told me about the board’s ambitions for the club and he asked me to take charge of the team.

“I accepted straight away. I just had to stay and help London Welsh build. We want to bring the club back to where it belongs.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 13, 2017 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 13, 2017 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE RUGBY PAPER مشاهدة الكل
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
The Rugby Paper

Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash

LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
The Rugby Paper

Dramatic late win boosts leaders

A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
England need to be more consistent
The Rugby Paper

England need to be more consistent

I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
The Rugby Paper

Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver

ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
The Rugby Paper

Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions

TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
The Rugby Paper

Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
The Rugby Paper

Four-try David calls the shots for Bears

MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
The Rugby Paper

Scott-Young keen to follow his father

TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
When value for money is not part of the deal
The Rugby Paper

When value for money is not part of the deal

ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 10, 2024
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
The Rugby Paper

'I want to prove my worth to Bath'

OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 10, 2024