Luctonians appoint Alex Davidson as Director of Rugby
15/07/10 by Paul Bolton
LUCTONIANS have announced North Midlands and former Birmingham & Solihull and England Counties lock Alex Davidson as their new Director of Rugby.
Davidson, 29, re-joins the club where he began his career after serving eight seasons with the Bees, and playing in their Powergen Cup quarter-final win over London Wasps six years ago.
But the former Wales Under-21 international will not be hanging up his boots just yet and is keen to help the Mortimer Park club establish themselves in National Two North.
Davidson, who first joined Luctonians as a 13-year-old, will feature as a player next season and is already busy assembling a squad ready for the challenge. He will also take up a community role with Luctonians, promoting sport in local primary schools and spreading the Luctonians message.
"I want to maximise the existing potential that is here to get a squad of possibly 40 players that are all capable of fitting into a first team environment," he said.
"Then we can increase the strength across the second team, the Knights and the rest of the club. It's about bringing the whole club on and hoping the cream comes to the top and are good enough to compete in National Two North."
Davidson has named a strong coaching line-up to assist him in his new role. Former Harlequins, Leicester Tigers and Bath scrum-half Scott Bemand has also decided to return to his roots after injury brought his Premiership career came to an end.
Bemand, a former England tourist, also began his career at Luctonians before he moved on to Moseley and then into the Premiership.
He has now returned to the family farm at Stoke Prior and has made a commitment to help coach Luctonians.
Viv Wooley, who has been such a big part of the clubs success over the past three years will act as forwards coach and be assisted by Andy Douthwaite.
North Midlands assistant coach Richard Henwood will continue in charge of the backs and work in tandem with Kiwi Aaron Jones (RFU CRC) who will be in charge of phase play and defence. Mark Matthews, ex Bath second row has also confirmed his desire to continue coaching at the club will specific responsibility for the Knights XV with Mal Williams.
