Maids announce new signing and Captain (01.07.05)

MAIDENHEAD Rugby Club coach Simon Edwards is busy making summer signings to bolster his plans for a promotion push in South West Division 1. One of his main objectives at the end of last season was to strengthen his talented but ageing back row. So he was particularly pleased this week to announce the acquisition of Johann Vorster, a South African who shone in the pack at struggling Slough last year. Edwards said he was delighted to be able to bring in players such as Vorster, who, he revealed, had an encouraging reputation. He said: "Vorster was playing at Slough last year and he basically made his mind up that he wanted to play a better standard of rugby. "I had heard about him and I knew he was in the country last year but he was loyal to Slough. "He spoke to us and said he was ready to move up. "He's a back row forward, which is an area we have been looking to strengthen in the squad for a while. We haven't got enough there. "He's in his mid-20s, he's played very good rugby in South Africa and we're hoping he can be a good addition to the squad." Vorster said he was looking forward to playing for his new club. He said: "It's a good team and I'm definitely looking at us going for the trophy." The players are due to begin their training on Tuesday for the new campaign, with the Maids coach insisting there would be a real emphasis on fitness work. Edwards said: "There is absolutely a need to work on fitness. We need to get the whole squad physically 20 per cent fitter than last year. "They were fit last year, but not fit enough for 80 minutes. "There were too many games where we only played well for phases in each half. We have got to hit this season harder. "We know how to play in this league now. We've been in it a year. To win this league, we have got to be fitter." Edwards added another important aspect of training for the new season would be to work on getting the ball out to score more tries. He said: "We need to be able to hit the league confident of scoring tries. "We got a bit reliant on penalties and drop goals, perhaps a bit like England, last year. "We'll work on ball skills and how we can actually achieve that wide game. It has to be coached." <>

MAIDS back Mark 'Razor' Ruddick (in action Right) has shown the necessary sharpness to be selected as club captain following the retirement into coaching of Allan Greene. Maidenhead manager Simon Edwards said he and Greene had little difficulty in choosing the 27-year-old club stalwart to represent the coaches on the field. Edwards said: "The criteria for the captain are very simple: he's got to be sure of his place in the side, he's got to have the respect of the whole team and he has got to have a good understanding of the game. "I believe that is all part of Mark's make-up. "Allan Greene and I both sat down to think about this and we both came up with the same name. We said 'that's it, let's approach him'. "I believe he will lead the side in a different way to some people, but he will be my voice on the pitch.