TALENTED young rugby players Wayne Whitson and Steve Price hope to win
England honours this season.
Both are members of the successful Lydney RFC colts team.
Whitson, an attacking fullback or wing, is playing in an England under
18s trial at Castlecroft, the England RFU centre of excellence, while
tight head prop Price has made the final trials in the under 19s group.
Whitson lives in Lydney while Price lives at Coalway.
"Both of them have worked very hard and deserve their success. They
have the full backing of the club and we wish them well," said colts'
manager John Matthews.
Both players are expected to play leading roles in a new team - a
Development XV - being planned at Regentsholme for next season.
"We are very anxious to get the side up and running. We have become
concerned at the number of players who quit rugby after colts because
there is often no team in which they can play," said Lydney chairman Dr
Peter Catlin.
"We want to keep players of this age group involved in the club. They
are often very skilful but easily lost to the game as they are not quite
ready for the demands of league rugby.
"The aim is that they should continue their development by experiencing
skilful coaching and playing against skilful opposition of a high
standard. We want them to play university sides and other club
development sides such as Worcester and Newbury. We are planning around
20 midweek games while the players can also turn out for other club
teams at the weekends," he said.