If they are good enough, they are old enough for Nottingham says Delaney
NOTTINGHAM Rugby may have been on the wrong end of a 54-7 scoreline against Leicester Tigers but Glenn Delaney insists it was all worthwhile.
The Green and Whites director of rugby doesn't believe in easy pre-season friendlies and takes his squad to Franklin Gardens on Monday night to play Northampton Saints in another tough assignment.
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Calum Green
"They are probably the toughest games the guys will play all season," said Delaney. "I can't see the point in playing inferior teams.
"I want them to learn from playing against the best, and they don't come any better than Tigers and the Saints.
"These two games will put them spot on for the opening match of the season at Meadow Lane against London Welsh."
Delaney used 14 replacements against the Tigers and for young players like Declan Farrell it must have been a dream come true.
Even in his wildest dreams, the Irish youngster can't have ever imagined he would have been playing against the Premiership champions so early in his career.
The 19-year-old, who is a student at Loughborough College, made his debut in the front row after a season with the National League Two North Loughborough Students side – three divisions below the RFU Championship team.
Farrell, who came on as hooker, was just one of the new faces in Delaney's squad. It is one which, sometimes, resembles a youth team.
"I'm a great believer in that if they are good enough, they are old enough," said Delaney. "Declan deserved his chance. We are hoping that he will remain with us for the season so he can develop as part of the set up here.
"It was a real baptism of fire for him to come into a front row against the likes of Martin Castrogiovanni and our first choice hooker – Tom Youngs.
"He will have some really tough competition here at Nottingham but I'm sure it will be positive in terms of his development."
Farrell was just one of the new crop of youngsters who faced the Tigers and the former Irish Exiles U18s captain could be in with a chance of Championship rugby over the coming weeks. Jimmy Stevens, 19, started as hooker and had an impressive game until he broke his leg early in the second half.
The sky could be the limit for the burgeoning talent which is waiting to be released from the new-look Nottingham squad which includes two 18-year-olds in prop Jonny Harris and scrum half Luix Roussarie.
Twenty-year-olds Calum Green, Dave Marshall, and Jamie Barnard have already tasted Championship rugby with the Green and Whites and centre Andy Forsyth and big back row man, Tom Armes, showed against Tigers that they will not be out of place in that league either.
Nic Carter (21), Phil Eggleshaw (21), Jack Cobden (21) and Phil Hemmingway (21), are already regulars for Nottingham as are Tim Streather (22), Jonny Baird (22) and Ed Slater (22).
Since taking over the Green and Whites five years ago, Delaney has developed a string of players, who are now playing for Premiership clubs and it must be the ambition of these players to follow in such footsteps.
Throw in the seasoned professionals like club skipper Craig Hammond, Luke Sherriff, Tim Usasz, David Jackson and former England international Ben Johnston and Delaney's babes can, once again, be challenging for a place at the top of the Championship.
3 Comments
by Dean, WB
Saturday, August 21 2010, 10:55AM
“My word, you have read an article on County but only post on rugby articles. Big stong men in shorts win everytime hey 56 year?
"My only consolation is that I hope they won't be doing so for so much longer"
Hahaha! I can just imagine you sat at home hoping!! Poor thing!”
by Beak, Notts
Saturday, August 21 2010, 10:33AM
“Another later night post!! The obsession with Nottingham rugby goes on!”
by 56 years a magpie, Wilford
Saturday, August 21 2010, 12:18AM
“Good to see Ray Trews PASSION FOR NOTTS COUNTY in the post tonight. As he says if we don't win tomorrow he is prepared to fund the signing of five new players and a change of manager if need be. This after only two league defeats. Do you plonkers think that if you lose the first ten matches he would be prepared to pump more money into the egg chasers, no. He must now understand that the egg chasers are a small insignificant little club that only a few hundred people in Nottingham care about or even know exist. I've been watching some tapes on Notts matches in the mid 90's in Febuary and March in which the pitch is in a far better condition than it is now at the same time of year.I see that Derby County are following other football clubs and not even playing their reserve team matches at Pride Park in order that thier pitch is in the best condition possible for first team matches. What chance have Notts got of playing on the best surface possible when we have a bunch of overweight men running after a funny shaped ball and ruining the pitch. My only consolation is that I hope they won't be doing so for so much longer. Notts can't afford to keep shipping tons of sand from Skegness each year to try to lessen the damage the egg chasers do to the pitch.”