England star helps out at Malvern

Luke Narraway has been helping out with Malvern's future star players

Malvern's first pre-season training session featured a guest coach in the shape of England star Luke Narraway, who led a session for the under-17s.

Malvern's chairman Martin Pocock said the club is investing a lot of time and energy in the younger players.

"I view this as one of the most important areas of development for Malvern Rugby Club,

"Several of our past youth players have come through to the first fifteen in the past but we need to sustain this."

Martin Pocock says the investment in the younger players is part of a long term strategy by the club to grow their own talent as they prepare for the life in the new National League Three Midlands division.

"Season 2009-10 is the first year of a plan to concentrate on growing and retaining our own talent,

"In the past we have suffered from losing young players with potential as they go away to higher education or drift out of the game as other attractions take precedence.

"We believe that under our new structure, we can retain and develop most of these youngsters, firstly at under-17, then at Colts level in year two.

With the highly professional coaching set up we now have in place throughout the club I am confident of a healthy future for Malvern Rugby Club

Martin Pocock

"By the third year we will establish an Academy side to manage the transition between the youth and senior sections," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Malvern are keen to build on their success last season in which they consolidated their position in Midlands One following promotion at the end of the previous campaign.

The restructuring of the leagues will present the club with a new challenge but Martin Pocock feels their focus on youth will stand them in good stead for the coming seasons.

"Whilst not all players will get to play at the high level attained by the first fifteen, we feel that we have put in place a platform to grow and strengthen the club from within,

"With the highly professional coaching set up we now have in place throughout the club I am confident of a healthy future for Malvern Rugby Club."

The Spring Lane club's director of rugby Dave Robins said Luke Narraway may well feature in further sessions in the coming season.

"We are grateful to Luke for his input, and we welcome all players from under-17 level upwards to join us on Tuesdays."