Exeter philosophy inspiring Arscott’s climb with Dings
DINGS Crusaders boss Luke Arscott says the deeds of Rob Baxter and Ali Hepher at his old club Exeter are inspiring his climb up the coaching ladder.
After a solid playing career in which he represented the Chiefs (two spells), Plymouth, Bristol and Bath, full-back Arscott joined Dings as player-coach in 2016 where he has helped drive four years of progress, including promotion from Level 5 in 2018.
Returning to National 2 South coincided with Dings moving to their new Shaftsbury Park stadium, where ambitions are turning towards moving up again.
Arscott told TRP: “Coming to Dings has been a brilliant move for me and we’ve been improving yearon-year since I’ve been here. The facilities are head and shoulders above anything else in this league which stands us in good stead.
“Bristol’s a difficult area to operate in with the tribal rivalry of Clifton and Old Reds and we’re often fighting over the same players, but the goal is to keep progressing and the facilities we offer give us the best chance of attracting players.
“Getting promoted and moving to the new ground in 2018 was really handy and the facilities are so good that we’ve had England age group teams down. Bristol Bears come across sometimes and it’s been great to have had the community impact as well.
“Bruce Reihana has been in from Bristol to help with our skills and it’s been good to bounce my ideas off him, while Pat Lam’s been good in sending some academy guys to us. We’re itching to push on and would love to get promoted again.”
Arscott, 35, is pushing towards his own Level 4 coaching qualification and is keen to follow in the footsteps of some illustrious names he has worked for.
He said: “I’ve worked under lots of good coaches but I’d say Rob Baxter and Ali Hepher are the two biggest influences around my philosophies of how to play the game and the best way to deal with groups of players.
“I came into Exeter for the second time after they’d beaten my Bristol team to get into the Premiership in 2010 and to see the bond and culture of the club and how Rob, Ali and senior players got the best out of each other was eye-opening.
“To go on and build the way they have over the last six years since I left has been incredibly impressive. I watch a lot of rugby and like what I see from them, so I want to try and emulate what they’re now achieving.
“Dings haven’t got the tools Exeter have but it’s still about getting the best out of what you have and making it enjoyable for everyone. To be starting my coaching journey at a relatively good standard has been invaluable for me.”