Club appoints medical and physio staff

Medway Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce, as part of the ongoing development of the club, the appointments of Dr Paul Staker MB BS MRCGP DIP SPORTS MED MSOM , Dan Horgan Bsc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP and Jessica Thorne MCSP for the forthcoming season.

Paul Staker, a Sports and Orthopaedic Physician, will take up the role of Club Doctor. Dan Horgan is appointed as Head Physiotherapist and Jessica Thorne Assistant Physiotherapist.

Paul Staker is a highly experienced Doctor who specialises in the field of sports injury medicine and provides the expertise much needed by the club to provide quality pastoral care for its players.

Dan Horgan too is experienced in his field having previously acted as Physiotherapist for Ashford RFC and is currently physiotherapist for the Kent County RFU under 20s representative team.

Jessica Thorne is a qualified physiotherapist and a keen rugby player herself who wishes to develop her experience and knowledge of dealing with sports injury and rehabilitation through the role.

Medway RFC have also installed a purpose built ice bath and are in the process of completing a dedicated treatment room.

Medway RFC Head Coach Taff Gwilliam said “These appointments are fantastic for the club. The knowledge and experience they bring will be invaluable and shows how we are serious about the care of our players”

Pre-season

First XV

Medway's 1st XV played their first pre-season friendly against a very strong Dover side bristling with county representative players and although soundly beaten by 10 tries to 2 there were a lot of positives to come from the game. Dover showed their class and the style and type of rugby that this developing Medway team must aspire to.

With notable performances from 18 year olds Sam Garofalo, Josh King, and Miles making their debuts combined with the debuts of the more experienced Tony Nolan and Alastair Lock it showed that Medway will be a much stronger squad this season. With the return of Rhyneheart, Collins, Stockford, Karol, Ruffel and Burns to the squad over the next few weeks competition for places and the strength of the team will grow.

Coach Taff Gwilliam said "this is the toughest of friendlies we could possibly start with. Dover are the top non- national league team in the South East of England and they paid us the compliment of putting out their strongest side (Collins apart). They are a quality outfit well coached and organised and with a lot of talented players. I am not disappointed with the performance. We had a reality check of where we need to be in the near future. We will be better for the experience ".

Development XV

Report and pictures from the Development Squad's 19 - 14 win over Dover III at Priestfields, 21 August.