It's difficult to know where to start when talking about GRS. A true fan favourite, a young man who has played for Stags and Blues for many years and one who other players look up to, not only for his commitment to whatever team he plays in but also for being simply a good, fun guy to be around. The coming season sees George take on coaching duties with Stags, or to be more precise player coach. Whoever had the idea of appointing George to this role needs to be applauded; it is an inspired decision. With Stags having difficulty fielding a regular team, George is close enough to and has such respect from the playing group that he is able to exert a significant amount of influence to encourage people to play and to lead by example both on and off the pitch.

George started his rugby career at Grove as a junior until his team disbanded and he moved to play at Newbury at under 16 and Colts. The move back to the area after university saw George start his senior playing days at the club, after playing what is now Super Bucs University rugby.

As a local PE teacher, George has had a lot of experience coaching and is well suited to coaching at a senior level. In teaching, environments change rapidly and George says he is able to make adaptations in response to these changes, a skill which will serve him well coaching the Stags. As a front row forward since the age of 13, George has a great deal of experience that he will bring to this aspect of the game, which is soon to be enhanced as he is about to start his English Rugby Coaching Award. As this is his first dip into adult coaching he is unsure what a coaching future looks like but even at this early stage he says it has been fascinating seeing what James and Will do behind the scenes with regard to the development of a coaching programme for the whole squad and how squad members are managed.

George has clear aims for Stags this coming season, firstly to have a consistent team, secondly to provide an environment where Stags players can put themselves forward for Blues selection and thirdly to gain promotion back to level 8. The final word I shall leave to GRS himself as it encapsulates the feelings he has towards this club and the players who turn out week in week out. “I truly have a love for the Stags having played for them. It's a special day when Stags play on a Saturday but with inconsistent numbers at training and on match days it has made Saturdays a lot harder for the boys who turn up. What I hope to do is continue to build the love for the Stags shirt. As I have already mentioned, the Stags offer the chance for boys to stake a claim for the coveted Blues shirt but is also offers the chance for recreation and release from our working lives. I want the Stags to have a core of men who love the club and playing for each other. I’ve got some ideas to build the passion as well as a potential tour being spearheaded by Ted Dyer. I’ve had some great conversations in the off season, and I can’t wait to get started.” Proof enough Stags are going to have someone at the helm who loves our club and who will do as much as is humanly possible to get the best out of the players. I am confident the players will also want to do their best for George. If you want inspiration, chat to GRS. Best of luck to all involved in the Stags for the coming season.