Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook RFC recently appeared in the Gloucester Citizen as their ‘Team of the Week’.
Club Chairman Paul Mason runs the rule over the Drybrook players.

Ben Large: The skipper is trendy, fashion-conscious and one of the coolest men around. He never has a hair out of place on or off the field.

Simon Rugman: Simon, a farmer, has stood down after two hugely successful terms as captain. Loves nothing more than bringing a bit of agricultural expertise to his centre three-quarter play.

Danny Price: The vertically challenged flanker is the best tackler in the club and one of the most dynamic players in the team – if he was 6ft 4in he would be a British Lion.

Niall Gibbons: A painter and decorator from Stonehouse who rates himself as a Brad Pitt lookalike. Very good player for his age and has slotted in well in both the second and back row this season.

Elliot White: Big pie-eating prop originally from Winchester who loves a good music festival. Very talented in the scrum and loves extra fitness sessions.

Dean Jelf: The former club shots drinking champion has now concentrated his efforts on a permanent front row slot since losing his title.

Alun Richards: A typical Welsh fly half who won’t go anywhere without a hair dryer. Originally from Swansea, Alun is a further education lecturer.

Sam Peaper: Known as the Harrow Hill flyer, he has an uncanny knack of sniffing a try out from the unlikeliest of opportunities.

Jose Kabile: A newcomer to the club, he has travelled all the way from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Very laid back and fond of a snooze, the big number eight has developed a taste for cider. He admits he finds the amber nectar more of a challenge than most of his opponents.

Ashley Howells: A former County Under-20 hooker and skipper, he has returned to the Mannings after a year out travelling around Australia. He now claims Dame Edna Everidge is his number one fan.

Mitch Bourne: The back-row man is the fifth generation of his family to play for the Drybrook club and has helped to maintain a fine reputation with two man-of-the-match performances so far this term.

Tom Treherne: The scrum-half comes from a family steeped in Drybrook history. He will play anywhere, any time against anybody and is also the club electrician and events planner to boot. A great club man.

Mitch Renton: He is big and powerful and an asset to any team. Equally at home in the front or back row, Mitch strikes fear in the opposition with his bullocking runs and big hits.

Lee Ward: The flanker has collected more yellow cards than the whole of the Gloucester Referees’ Society has between them. Surprising for such a mild mannered and unobtrusive individual.

Marcus Cowles: The second row is a colossus of a man but has surprising agility for his size. Fond of ballroom dancing, Marcus loves nothing more than settling down to watch Strictly on a Saturday evening.

Luke ‘Jersey’ Fisher: The utility player is equally at home at hooker or in the centre. His boundless energy and enthusiasm is infectious – a coach’s dream.

Mitch Baldwin: A talented wing man/scrum-half/goal-kicker, Mitch is another player to have risen from the ranks of the club’s junior section. Last season’s top try -scorer, Mitch can be relied upon to open up any game with his ambitious approach.

Kristian Taft: The most intelligent member of the squad is full-back Kristian. His feet are even quicker than his brain and it is only a matter of time before he is selected for Mastermind or the GB sprint team.

Gareth Holdsworth: He has joined this season from neighbours Ross-on-Wye. A former Drybrook junior section player.

Chris Rawlings: The joint manager is a club legend with over 600 1st XV appearances to his name. Better known as Soapy, he has decided to step back from playing to concentrate on his managerial requirements.

Alan ‘Lank’ Miles: Co- manages the team alongside Chris Rawlings whenever his work commitments allow. Aerospace engineer Alan restores old buildings in his spare time capacity as regional officer for English Heritage.

Frazer McArdell: The club’s talisman and head coach. A passionate Scot, Frazer was disappointed to find out he did not qualify for the recent referendum on residency grounds.

Tim Stevenson: The Welshman is the assistant coach and player but is currently sidelined through long-term injury. He is the only man to offer a realistic challenge to pie-eating front row man Elliot White.