Reynolds aims to build strong stock of young hungry Rams
READING-based Rams, who hosted Sale FC yesterday, have been a fairytale story of English rugby since their National 2 South promotion in 2019.
They finished runners-up in National One the following season and are among the early pace-setters this season.
Director of rugby Seb Reynolds relishes the third tier’s competitiveness, while maintaining the ‘heart and soul’ of the community game.
He told TRP: “I think it provides some of the best skill and local talent on a rugby pitch you can see. These guys are mostly working individuals who put their heart and soul into getting fit for a Saturday afternoon.
“You can come down, get a beer, enjoy quality rugby, see ex-Premiership players against young developing players. It’s just a brilliant product to watch.”
Rams’ debut season in National 1 saw them feature in the conversation of Championship promotion this season but Reynolds’ aims are – as they have been throughout the club’s rise – internal.
“Our ambition is to develop this side,” he says. “We have a group of experienced players who have been doing this a while and a crop of younger lads coming through.
“We have Max Hayman, who came from Newbury Blues in National 3 South West. He’s been with us a couple of years and developing to the point he got a start this weekend. We’ve got Connor Hayhow, originally from Bracknall,
and he’s now getting his start.”
Rams had lost two games ahead of their home clash with Sale – to promoted Taunton and Darlington Mowden Park – and Reynolds is not taking any team lightly.
“There’s no definitive ambition to what we must do this year,” he says. “If we do that, we disrespect this league too much. We just have to compete with what’s in front of us.
“It’s great to have rugby and not be in lockdown wondering when we’ll be back. On a Saturday afternoon, I used to have to go and do the food shopping at Tesco, thinking ‘when are we going to have rugby back’.
“For me, the first third of the season should just be elation that this sport is back and that it’s been a great contest. National 1 is shaping up to be incredible exciting this season.”
Rams vs Sale FC is a featured game in today’s National League Rugby Review Show. Subscripe for the whole season at a Halloween special price of £7 until tonight at 11:59pm.