Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Keeping it local
C LU B I D E N T I T Y R E MAI N S KEY
Andy Pratt says he will make sure Canterbury Rugby Club never lose sight of their principles no matter how hard life in National League 1 gets. Canterbury have lost all 13 matches since winning promotion from National 2 South but Pratt says the club’s ethos will not be compromised. The head of rugby hosted an open forum at the club on Monday where it was revealed that 49% of played minutes this season have featured players from east Kent.
That figure is down from 65% last season but Pratt says the club will always look to promote local talent before recruiting from outside. He explained: “As a club we need our principles, our identity which needs to be established. “I have a philosophy that the majority of our lads will come from the Canterbury and east Kent areas.
“That’s nothing against the lads who come in because they are vital but we’re not a club that buys in success, I’ll be brutal about that.
“We have to have a purpose and even if a millionaire backer came in, to the extent I suddenly had a massive budget which meant I could bring in recruits I wouldn’t.
“I’d just be thinking what’s the point.”
Pratt described the forum as ‘a shot in the arm’ for him and admitted it was reassuring to learn that supporters remain fully behind the team.
He did however add that there were areas in which the club could improve – primarily in terms of player development and conditioning.
He added: “I wanted to front up and answer any questions they had for me.
“On t h e whol e i t was extremely positive and the supporters appreciate what the lads are doing.
“They know it’s hard for them but the old lads who follow us everywhere, they all said as long as the players put in 100% for 80 minutes every week they were happy.
“A few of the lads were there so it was good for them to hear that.”
Canterbury host fifth-placed Cinderford on Saturday and there is a rare piece of good news on the injury front – they have had as many as 15 players sidelined – with Sam Sterling back after his broken thumb. Lock Alex Thompson is poised for his home debut having joined last month on loan from Jersey Reds.
‘The club will always look to promote local talent’