Introduction To Our Members
Dino Radice 1st XV Head Coach 2011-
Blackburn RUFC's new head coach, Dino Radice, gives his thoughts on his new role and the season ahead.
Hi Dino, welcome to the role of head coach.
You have played for the club for a number of years, how do you plan to handle the transition from teammate to head coach?
'Good question, I think having just been a player, then a player and a backs coach, I think I have made the mistakes that I would have made if I had just made the transitiion from player immediately to head coach. It isn't an easy thing to do,if you have played with many of them, as I have done, but it has started ok, we had a few matters to clear up at the start, but they have been cleaned up and we are happy to go ahead the way we are doing.'
How has the recruitment of new players and coaches been?
'I will go to the coaches first, Chris Haighton, I have known for a long time, he is a RFU level 3 coach, he has coached Cumbria and North of England forwards, he is an absolute expert when it comes to forwards play. He was my number one target and it took me a few weeks to get him into postion, but I am very happy we got him.'
'In regards to players, I didn't want to recruit loads of players as I was quite happy with the players I had, they just need some tweaking and need to listen to their coaches either backs or forwards and I think we are fine with the players we have got. Anton has been a great addition in the back line, a couple of others in the backs are Norton, who I am happy with and Max Fullalove, who came over from Flyde, I think with a bit of work he will be a massive bonus for us. As far as forwards are concerned, Bobby Blackhurst from Preston has come in, he is a big second row, he has bags of experience which I think we needed. Luke Copping is back from injury and he is a great player. A few from the colts have also stepped up, these being Zac Child, Dom Hogan and Joe Shorrock.'
How has pre-season gone well?
'It has gone fantastically well, we have been working at Crossfit gym in Clitheroe with Chris Templeman. We had a pre-season game at Broughton Park and I think we were the fitter team and we are massively stronger then we have ever been before, which is good.'
Is there a specific style you plan to play this season?
'I want to play an expansive game, I think we need to play with width and depth, we will need runners in the centre and let the backs do the rest. I think we have a strong enough back line to play that sort of rugby.'
Finally, what are your hopes and goals for the season?
'I would aim to be in the top three, but ideally we would be looking to be promoted this season.'
Blackburn RUFC's new head coach, Dino Radice, gives his thoughts on his new role and the season ahead.
Hi Dino, welcome to the role of head coach.
You have played for the club for a number of years, how do you plan to handle the transition from teammate to head coach?
'Good question, I think having just been a player, then a player and a backs coach, I think I have made the mistakes that I would have made if I had just made the transitiion from player immediately to head coach. It isn't an easy thing to do,if you have played with many of them, as I have done, but it has started ok, we had a few matters to clear up at the start, but they have been cleaned up and we are happy to go ahead the way we are doing.'
How has the recruitment of new players and coaches been?
'I will go to the coaches first, Chris Haighton, I have known for a long time, he is a RFU level 3 coach, he has coached Cumbria and North of England forwards, he is an absolute expert when it comes to forwards play. He was my number one target and it took me a few weeks to get him into postion, but I am very happy we got him.'
'In regards to players, I didn't want to recruit loads of players as I was quite happy with the players I had, they just need some tweaking and need to listen to their coaches either backs or forwards and I think we are fine with the players we have got. Anton has been a great addition in the back line, a couple of others in the backs are Norton, who I am happy with and Max Fullalove, who came over from Flyde, I think with a bit of work he will be a massive bonus for us. As far as forwards are concerned, Bobby Blackhurst from Preston has come in, he is a big second row, he has bags of experience which I think we needed. Luke Copping is back from injury and he is a great player. A few from the colts have also stepped up, these being Zac Child, Dom Hogan and Joe Shorrock.'
How has pre-season gone well?
'It has gone fantastically well, we have been working at Crossfit gym in Clitheroe with Chris Templeman. We had a pre-season game at Broughton Park and I think we were the fitter team and we are massively stronger then we have ever been before, which is good.'
Is there a specific style you plan to play this season?
'I want to play an expansive game, I think we need to play with width and depth, we will need runners in the centre and let the backs do the rest. I think we have a strong enough back line to play that sort of rugby.'
Finally, what are your hopes and goals for the season?
'I would aim to be in the top three, but ideally we would be looking to be promoted this season.'
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