Stourbridge RFC Committee are pleased to announce that they have given the remit to our Director of Rugby to announce the initial coaching team for adult senior rugby for the coming season. With the amalgamation of Stourbridge Lions into the main club we will have two competitive men’s league sides.
Mitch said "last season was very challenging from a coaching perspective due to many contributory factors and it took to the final game of the season for us to be able to produce a squad of quality and depth capable of showing what was so sadly lacking during the bulk of the season.
The coaching ethos this coming season will be cascaded throughout the ‘whole club’ with the desire to achieve promotion for our senior league teams.
I will therefore be working with a player coaching team of James Rodley, Mike Penn, Mark George and Adam Sturdy with James and Mike taking the lead roles. I also intend to look at the aspiring and established coaches already within our ranks to support all senior men’s rugby.
The coaching team will also be looking at adding some specialist coaching and increasing our relationships with our local schools. The intention to spread the coaching load, will encompass all players, rather than the perceived view that the quality and depth of coaching stops at the First XV. We will also be reaching out to engage with Worcester Warriors Women so that the advances in the coaching of our Puma’s and Panthers is of the highest standard.
Our Colts finished the season on a high last year beating Luctonians, but many of those players are in their senior year so the Colts will need a huge focus for the coming season and supporting Derek and his team will be one of my main priorities.

The new team are looking forward to the challenges ahead and recruitment announcements will follow as the summer progresses"

James Rodley, a former Warriors and London Irish Player said regarding the appointments "I am really pleased to be part of a coaching group to drive the club and teams forward. Our focus will be on promotion and how we build the culture and quality to achieve success. I look forward to seeing many familiar faces at the First game of the 23/24 season, we will need the support of the club on this road together to get back were we belong !”

Mike Penn, Wollaston born, and former Moseley stalwart said of the new look team.
"I’m really looking forward to the challenges that next season brings. We hope to build on the core of our young and talented players together with those with more experience to develop a playing and training culture that flows through the club".

Mark George, former London Irish and Cambridge front row commented “I’m excited to get the boys grafting and instilling a good team ethic in what I consider to be redemption for last year’s relegation. I want to see the return of the powerful scrum that Stourbridge has always relied on instilled in both our league sides and feel I have the experience and drive to take ‘team’ Stourbridge forward".

Adam Sturdy, who’s 22-year span as a player and coach at Stourbridge and the league appearance record holder said.[i] “It’s been a privilege to be involved as both a player and a coach with this great club over the last 22 years. Although the last 12 months has proved challenging this club deserves success and has some of the best facilities in the area". [/i

]We now need to build for the future and the chance to work with Mike, James and Mark in an exciting one. I’m genuinely excited about what the future holds for our club”

Stourbridge SRFC Committee