The 2009/10 season was a time of renewal and consolidation for the Club, with the goal of retaining our status in National Division 1 achieved on the final day of the season, a testament to the young players who committed themselves to Otley, under the on field Leadership of Howard Parr.

The successful development of the Club’s coaching and playing resources has been recognised within the upper echelons of the game with Diccon Edwards been appointed to the RFU Elite Coaching Team, with responsibility for the England U20’s, hooker George Warner moving to Moseley, 2nd row Alex Ball to Birmingham, flanker Chris Walker to Doncaster Knights, prop Colin Quigley back to Rotherham following his loan spell, and fly half James Murray to the Continent. I wish them all every success, and we are proud to have contributed to the development of their rugby and life skills, and I hope that we will see them back at Cross Green in future seasons.

Mark Luffman will continue in his role of Head Coach, a position he has filled with distinction over a number of seasons, I will assist Mark as backs coach for the coming season and we will also be utilising the skills of Pat Cowdell as our fitness and conditioning specialist. Pat is well known in the local Otley community where he owns Club Energy in the town centre.

Continuity and Player Development are the key themes for the season ahead, and with the exception of the players named above, I am pleased to announce that all other squad members from 2009/10 have been retained, including our Leeds Carnegie Academy players, who together with a number of new signings form the 2010/11 squad as detailed below

Initial Core 1st XV Squad 2010/11
(retained player unless otherwise stated)

Prop
Adam Blades
Gareth Denman
Chris Hamill
Adam Kemsley Bracknell & Buckinghamshire
Jason Moss
Eddie Peglau Leeds Carnegie Academy
Cameron Zeiss

Hooker
Harry Hannan Leeds Carnegie Academy
Ben Steele
Peter Tennet Westoe

2nd Row
Mark Bennett
Howard Parr
Dallas Pawley Randwick, Australia

Back Row/2nd Row
Joe Quinn
Tom O’Donnell

Back Row
Robert Afoa-Peterson Cergy-Pontoise, France
Richard Beck
Steve Costello
Stu Costello
Gareth Drabble
Oliver Stedman
Jamie Sutton Stade Domontois, France

Scrum Half
Matthew Birch Old Otliensians
Steve Depledge
Craig Hampson

Fly Half
Ben Collins Doncaster Rugby League
Jervis Manupenu Bracknell & Berkshire

Centre
Joe Barker
Oli Denton
Joel Gill
Toby Quarendon Leeds Carnegie Academy (signed from Harlequins)
Oli Richards Leeds Carnegie Academy (signed from Harlequins)
James White

Wing
Nazir Karim Prince Henry’s, Otley
Mark Kirkby
James Twomey
Curtis Wilson

Full Back
Ryan Duckett
Christian Georgiou
Brian Parsons Kaikoura, New Zealand

We have a number of other talented players who will further strengthen the overall composition of the 1st XV and Saracens squads, and we are currently assessing capabilities during pre season coaching. I will make further announcements of additions to the 1st XV Core Squad as this evolves over the coming weeks and months.

We will continue to develop our ethos and principles of playing our rugby with ambition and without fear, in an environment predicated on enjoyment for the game.

Yours in Rugby,

Gary Walker
Director of Rugby, Otley RUFC
15 July 2010