Rugby: Barking coach Codling to keep faith with youthful side

08 July 2010

GONE... Craig Ratford (above) is one of three players to have left Barking over the off-season.

By Iain Liddle

BARKING rugby coach Alex Codling believes the club can achieve success in a higher division next season while maintaining their focus on youth development.

The Gale Lane club reported back for their first pre-season session last week, where a number of young triallists trained alongside existing squad members.

Codling is set to fine tune his playing squad over the coming week, but has told supporters not to expect an influx of expensive signings to boost their assault on National One.

"We started pre-season training last week and the boys have come back in a very positive frame of mind following the success of last year," said the coach.

"We've added to the squad with a few boys who have come in and a few more will be joining us over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully things are taking shape nicely.

"Again the emphasis will be very much on youth. We're not spending stupid money like a lot of teams.

"The focus this year, like last year, will be on developing rather than spending a fortune."

Barking have lost three players from last year's promotion-winning side, with Craig Ratford and Adam Kwasnicki signing professional terms with London Scottish, who also play in National One, while lock Stuart Riding could not commit to the increased schedule of a higher division.

However, forwards coach Kevin Sorrell, who played in the Guinness Premiership for Saracens last season, has agreed to sign on as a player-coach for the upcoming campaign.

"Stuart has only left because he lives in the Midlands and was finding it tough and obviously Adam and Craig wanted full-time rugby," said Codling.

"Scottish are going full-time this year and at Barking we can't offer that, but they contributed last year in a big way and we'll look forward to playing against the two Scottish boys in the first couple of weeks of the season.

"I've always said to the players that if they move on to a higher level then Kevin and I have done our jobs.

"We're not here to hold the boys back in any way, we're here to develop them. Two have gone back into full-time rugby and hopefully there will be more to follow in the future."

Barking will play their first pre-season friendly match against Hertford on August 14 and follow it with games against Esher and Southend on August 21 and 27 respectively.