Warriors merry-go-round gone on too long – Arr
LONG-SERVING Worcester Warriors No.9 Jonny Arr has pleaded for stability after admitting constant coaching changes have hindered the club’s progress.
Four head honchos have passed through the revolving doors at Sixways in five years, with Richard Hill followed by Dean Ryan, Gary Gold and now Alan Solomons.
With South African Rory Duncan replacing Carl Hogg as head coach next season, Arr told The Rugby
Paper: “We’ve had a lot of coaches and rugby directors come and go in recent years and few of them have stayed for longer than three years.
“What you need to achieve success is for someone to stick around for five years but the wholesale changes we’ve had have halted our progression.
“There’s been takeover talk, too, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect us at some point during the whole process, because for players to come here and sign they want to know what’s going to be happening with the club and its ownership.
“We sat down as a player group and said everything we do on a match day is within our control and it’s down to us to not let that stuff affect us, which we’ve done pretty well, but ultimately we need stability. If we get that, the future’s good.”
Arr, 29, recently celebrated his testimonial match with a win over Gloucester and, having loyally remained with Warriors since the age of seven despite overtures from elsewhere, he is desperate to bring silverware to the club.
Arr explained: “My association goes back 22 years so while I have had difficult decisions in the past about whether to stay or move on, the emotional attachment of growing up in the city means there’s always that draw. I’d have hated to have moved on and seen Worcester fulfil their dreams and be successful without being part of it, so that’s still part of my motivation for being here and, along with Chris Pennell, we hope to be rewarded.
“We’ve recently beaten two top four sides in Exeter and Gloucester and, whilst we’re losing some players, we’ve kept hold of key players like Sam Lewis and Ryan Mills for next season and the squad make up looks good.”
Arr has played second fiddle to South Africa star Francois Hougaard and faces further competition following the signing of Michael Heaney, left.
However, he added: “Mike’s a good signing. He’s been a standout for Doncaster and is probably the best scrum-half in the Championship, so he’ll provide stiff competition for myself, Francois and Luke Baldwin.
“You either accept that challenge or move on and I’ll do everything I can to get my name on the team sheet.”