Not a good Ealing as Cov loan star Elliot is recalled
COVENTRY Rugby have lost the services of front-rower Elliot Chilvers who has been recalled by Ealing six weeks ahead of schedule.
The popular loose-head prop arrived at the Butts Park Arena last summer on a season-long loan deal and has since made 18 appearances for Alex Rae’s team including ten as a starter.
But the well-funded Championship leaders, whose squad is similar in size to Premiership clubs that receive around 650% more funding, have now invoked a clause in the loan contract which entitles them to recall Chilvers at any point.
By beating the Trailfinders last month it seems that Cov inadvertently did their hopes of retaining the young prop’s services until the end of May no good whatsoever.
This setback along with a pointless return from their subsequent trip to Ampthill and last week’s close squeak in Cornwall against the Pirates have reportedly played a part in Ealing’s decision to recall a number of loan players from around the country.
With four games remaining the Valis Way club require a maximum of 12 points to secure the title while inform nearest challengers Cov are poised to take advantage of any slipup.
Chilvers becomes the fifth player to depart the Butts Park Arena since the start of the current campaign.
Lock forward Rhys Anstey and centre Tom Hitchcock, who has made an eyecatching contribution since arriving at the BPA from Ealing on a similar loan deal in March, are not at the moment thought to be in
any danger of following Chilvers back down the M40.
Chilvers becomes the fifth player to depart the Butts Park Arena since the start of the current campaign. Prop Harry Seward’s injuryrelated early retirement and lock George Smith’s decision to try his luck in American Football’s NFL have since Christmas been followed by centre Will Rigg joining Exeter and
his fellow midfielder Lucas Titherington moving to the USA.
These departures have been offset by the recent arrivals of long-term loanee Hitchcock and triallist scrumhalf Toby Venner plus the acquisition on full contracts of props Vili Nairau and Adam Nicol.
Tickets for Coventry’s next home game against Bedford on Saturday April 20th are available from: https:// www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/ matchday-tickets/