Post by Communications Team on Jun 1, 2015 11:54:46 GMT
Moseley Rugby Club expresses its thanks for the outstanding contributions of two long serving players - fly half Ollie Thomas and back row Neil Mason. Both have announced their retirement from Moseley’s 1st XV squad .............but they aren’t going far.
Next season they will be linking up with sister club Moseley Oak and their former 1st XV coach John White as player coaches.
Both are former Colts who came through the highly rated Moseley Mini & Junior system, and the pair have represented Moseley’s 1st a combined 500 times over the last 13 years.
The ‘veterans’ are the same age and former England Counties Fly Half Ollie made his 1st team debut in 2002. Neil returned to the club after a spell in full time rugby during which he represented England Under 21s and made his Moseley 1st XV debut in 2005.
At fly half Ollie captured and holds most of the club points records with his boot whilst Neil was both club and 1st XV captain during parallel careers where both players picked up just about all the awards available. Whilst neither have been ‘one club men’ they’re pretty close to it, having only ‘been away’ for 3 seasons each over the last 15 – and that doesn’t count the years in Mini, Junior and Colts rugby.
Their appointment as player coaches with Moseley Oak (Midlands West 2) makes for an exciting platform as the Moseley club continues with its ‘player pathway’ strategy that sees Head Coach Kevin Maggs assume responsibility for all playing matters from the youngest to the oldest.
Moseley Oak Chairman and Moseley President Elect John Richards said
“We are very excited at the prospect of these two distinguished Moseley players joining John White and Paul Cox as our coaches. Neil and Ollie have both made remarkable contributions to the 1st XV and we have every expectation that they will do the same with us.”
These appointments further reinforce the pathway of development at Billesley Common overseen by Director of Rugby, Kevin Maggs. Moseley Oak looks forward to welcoming new and former players at pre-season training which starts on Thursday 2nd July (6:45pm at Billesley Common). The club caters for a range of players from those with Moseley 1st team aspirations to social players – all as part of the Moseley club player pathway.
Next season they will be linking up with sister club Moseley Oak and their former 1st XV coach John White as player coaches.
Both are former Colts who came through the highly rated Moseley Mini & Junior system, and the pair have represented Moseley’s 1st a combined 500 times over the last 13 years.
The ‘veterans’ are the same age and former England Counties Fly Half Ollie made his 1st team debut in 2002. Neil returned to the club after a spell in full time rugby during which he represented England Under 21s and made his Moseley 1st XV debut in 2005.
At fly half Ollie captured and holds most of the club points records with his boot whilst Neil was both club and 1st XV captain during parallel careers where both players picked up just about all the awards available. Whilst neither have been ‘one club men’ they’re pretty close to it, having only ‘been away’ for 3 seasons each over the last 15 – and that doesn’t count the years in Mini, Junior and Colts rugby.
Their appointment as player coaches with Moseley Oak (Midlands West 2) makes for an exciting platform as the Moseley club continues with its ‘player pathway’ strategy that sees Head Coach Kevin Maggs assume responsibility for all playing matters from the youngest to the oldest.
Moseley Oak Chairman and Moseley President Elect John Richards said
“We are very excited at the prospect of these two distinguished Moseley players joining John White and Paul Cox as our coaches. Neil and Ollie have both made remarkable contributions to the 1st XV and we have every expectation that they will do the same with us.”
These appointments further reinforce the pathway of development at Billesley Common overseen by Director of Rugby, Kevin Maggs. Moseley Oak looks forward to welcoming new and former players at pre-season training which starts on Thursday 2nd July (6:45pm at Billesley Common). The club caters for a range of players from those with Moseley 1st team aspirations to social players – all as part of the Moseley club player pathway.
