We are hiring! Please click here to join our growing magazine delivery team in Gloucestershire!

4. Leaflets Distributed with TLA

Why Cheltenham Saracens Rugby Club are the great entertainers

Cheltenham > Sport > Rugby Union

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Tuesday, 25th April 2017, 12:10

Shaun Meheran of Cheltenham Saracens. Picture, Joe White Shaun Meheran of Cheltenham Saracens. Picture, Joe White

Singer Robbie Williams may not be to everyone’s taste but one of his songs ‘Let Me Entertain You’ could easily apply to Cheltenham Saracens Rugby Club this season.

That’s because the club have played with a free-flowing style that has delighted chairman Jimmy O’Shea, who has heaped praise on coaching duo Billy Burns and Jacob Rowan.

The Gloucester players have helped the Saracens to enjoy another successful season in Gloucester Premier – a campaign that has left O’Shea purring: “It keeps getting better and better.”

Well might O’Shea be pleased with the way things are going. Ten years ago it was inconceivable they would be playing just one level below Cheltenham while at the same time rubbing shoulders with the likes of Berry Hill, St Mary’s Old Boys, Old Richians and Cheltenham North.

But it’s not just the results that have delighted O’Shea, it’s the club’s style of play and that’s where Burns and Rowan come in.

“They’ve had a massive influence on the way we’re playing.” O’Shea said. “They’ve introduced a style of play and the players have really taken to it.

“We like to run the ball wide and bring the wings and full-back into play. We’re not the biggest of sides and we try to get the ball away from the forwards and move the other team around. It’s good to watch.”

O’Shea believes that had it not been for injuries to the likes of Gareth Rogers and John Welsh then the Saracens could have clinched a place in Western Counties North this season.

As it is he reckons promotion could be a possibility next season.

“It’s a hard league and a competitive one,” he said. “We’re lucky that our players are very committed so there’s no reason why we can’t try to push on.”

Second row or number eight James McMahon has again led the side this season and O’Shea said: “He’s a very good skipper, everyone gets on well with him.”

O’Shea also picked out prop Dave Fitzharris, hooker Aaron Connolly, back row Liam Cooper and backs Luke Morgan and James Butler as players who have had good seasons.

The number of injuries have prevented the club from putting out a regular third team this season but they plan to run one again next season.

The club have also run an under-14 team this season and are hoping to start an under-12 side in 2017/18.

Other Images

Saracens’ Ed Hampshire (on the ground) with Jack Lawrenson in support. Picture, Joe White

Copyright © 2024 The Local Answer Limited.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to The Local Answer Limited and thelocalanswer.co.uk with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

More articles you may be interested in...

The Local Answer. Advertise to more people in Gloucestershire
The Local Answer. More magazines through Gloucestershire doors

© 2024 The Local Answer Limited - Registered in England and Wales - Company No. 06929408
Unit H, Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 7EG - VAT Registration No. 975613000

Privacy Policy