Moyle confident Ma’asi factor will entice new talent
PETERBOROUGH Lions rugby director Simon Moyle believes his club’s bold ambition to reach National One will halt the player drain from the city.
The Lions will compete in National League Two North for the first time next season after defeating Hull in a Midlands/North Premier play-off. Moyle is now banking on the influence of respected head coach Vili Ma’asi to attract players to the club.
Moyle, who, like Ma’asi, is a former Cornish Pirates player, told TRP: “The dream at Peterborough Lions has always been National League rugby and, after being in the Midlands Premier for four years, it’s the right time to move the club forward.
“Darren Fox, our previous head coach, brought professionalism to the club when he was here and Vili’s taken our game to another level. Vili was a hard, direct forward and we’ve still got that edge, but we’re playing fast and wide as well now.
“We had good players already but we picked up a few more before this season and, hopefully, promotion will now help us attract more.”
Moyle explained: “Peterborough’s a big city with a population of over 180,000 and while Peterborough United FC have held sway, all of a sudden we’re among the top 72 rugby clubs in the country and that should bolster things.
“We can attract extra sponsorship, get businesses involved and local players now have an ambitious National League club with good facilities they can play for without having to travel to the likes of Cambridge, Ampthill or Leicester Lions.
“I’d hope any young, ambitious player in our area would join us now and get good coaching and a good style of rugby in a team which, hopefully, will compete next year.
“We don’t want to be a yo-yo outfit, we want to build to National One.”
As for the step up, Moyle added: “It’s a big one and we’ll be taking on some big names in Fylde, Preston Grasshoppers, Otley and Tynedale. But that’s what this club has worked hard for over five years and we aim to enjoy the journey.”