Fleur Roberts will be shouting plenty of words of encouragement to the men's 2^nd XV at Cheltenham North this season.

The 26-year-old is their new assistant manager and will be on the touchline for their first Gloucester & District 1 game at home to Westbury-on-Severn on Saturday 4^th October.

And she doesn't have any concerns about being heard.

“I have a very loud voice, the players don’t have the option of not hearing me,” she laughed. “They’ve nicknamed me Foghorn!”

Roberts will be working alongside the club’s 2^nd XV manager Jordan Lawrence, her partner who she met at Cheltenham North.

She worked unofficially as his assistant last season after sustaining an ACL tear while playing for the club’s women’s team.

Rugby has become a big part of the former Tewkesbury School pupil’s life since she joined the North about three years ago.

“I started as a centre but I migrated to flanker,” she said. “I’ll play 6 or 7 but blindside is my favourite position, I’m always expecting someone to come round the corner and then I can dive on them.”

Her playing career has been put on hold due to her injury – she needs an operation and won’t play this season – but it has given her the chance to develop her role with the men’s 2^nd XV.

“It’s been really good,” said Roberts, who used to play water polo for Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club.

“We set up all the drills, do the pre-match warm-ups and I’m involved with making changes during games.”

Lawrence, who is also 26, took on the 2^nd XV manager’s role at the start of last season. A former number 8, he was forced to retire through injury, but like Roberts he is thoroughly enjoying his role at  the club.

And they are important roles, too, because, as with all rugby clubs, the 2^nd XV provides a pathway to the 1^st XV. A strong, well-run  2^nd XV means a stronger 1^st XV.

“Dan Thomas (North rugby development officer) has been really supportive,” continued Roberts, who lives in Tewkesbury.

“He’s been pushing for us to look at pursuing coaching avenues, I want to play rugby again but that’s exciting.”

Gloucester & District 1 is made up of 10 teams and includes the likes of Old Patesians 2nds and Cheltenham 2nds. Each team plays each other twice with the final round of fixtures taking place on Saturday 25^th April.

The North are also running a 3rds/vets side this season so that means plenty of rugby at Stoke Orchard Road over the coming months.

“We want to support the rugby club anyway we can,” said Roberts, who works in engineering. “They are a proper rugby club, everybody is very welcoming. They are like a family, that’s the vibe.”