Umaga in optimistic mood

NUNEATON RFC could be without three key players for their first game of the season tomorrow — but they travel to Harrogate in optimistic mood.

A summer of change at Liberty Way has seen players come and go following relegation back into National Two North and director of rugby Mike Umaga admits it will take time for the new-look side to settle.

He said: “I’m always optimistic. I think the way we approached pre-season was good. We’ve got to be confident.

“Pre-season was good. We had three very different tests and for the large part the players have stepped up.

“No one has let themselves down. Harrogate will be tough. They appear to be strong at home and have a lot of home grown players, not unlike ourselves.

“We won’t know how the season will go until we played a few games. I don’t want to make sweeping predictions.

“The first few games are all going to be against differing types of teams so once we’ve had a few games we should have some idea.

“We know how want to play, it’s just a question of putting it together consistently. We’ve shown we are comfortable with the ball and we can defend.

“We need to be able to that for long spells though.” Team captain Huw Thomas has left the club to sign for French club Nimes and there are doubts over club captain Tim Douglas (shoulder) and full-back Elliott Brown.

Umaga says the squad will learn to cope swiftly without Thomas as he has scrum-halves Andy Murray and Alex Mumford to pick from.

Mumford spent the last year playing in New Zealand and comes highly recommended from a contact of Umaga’s back in his homeland.

“It’s fine that Huw is going. I can’t hold it against him because it’s a great rugby and a great life experience.

“We can’t dwell on Huw going. I’ve always told the players there is someone out there to replace everyone. We’ve got two exciting scrum-halves in Alex Mumford and Andy Murray to come in.

“They are talented boys who are lacking experience, which they will only gain by playing.” Another player who should sign this week is Leicester Lions number eight/flanker Andy Dockray with the prospect of at least three more arrivals in the pipeline.

The amount of changes means Umaga will be looking for senior men to step up.

“The squad has changed around but there are senior guys there who we’ll be looking to.

“Matt Aston and Tim Douglas are obvious ones, but there are guys like Llyr Griffiths and Nick Smith as well.

“Adam Woodfield is another. He’s under 20, but this is his third season in the first team squad.”