Broadstreet

The league newcomers have recruited centre Steve Hersey (Leamington), backrow Owen Jones (Malvern), fullback/wing Greg Summer (Malvern) and prop Josh Roach (Leicester University).

Departures include Mark Challis and Ian Williams, both to Dunlop RFC.

Source: Rugby Times, 28th August 2009.

Caldy

Following a major recruitment drive at Paton Field at least fifteen new players have joined Caldy. These include:

Forwards - props Stuart Turner (Sale Sharks, England & Barbarians), Liam McLoughlin (Waterloo) & Jack Collister (Hoylake); locks Paul Arnold (Moseley) & Gareth Rawlings (Limoges); hookers Peter Ince (Waterloo), Tom Greensmith (Otley) & Sean Strudwick (Wasps Academy); backrowers Craig Smithson (Macclesfield), John Nugent (France)

Backs: fly-half Richard Vasey (Moseley); centres Marcus Coast & Scott Rawlings (Manchester); wingers Neil Kerfoot (Waterloo) & Jonathan Fuller (Mold); scrum-half Louis Orme.

Departures include locks Paul White and Richard Bradshaw (both retired), no 8 Sam Dickinson (Rotherham), scrum-half Sam Cottrell (Wharfedale), flanker Matt Lamming (Loughborough Students) & winger Liam Devaney (overseas)

Source:  Liverpool Daily Post

Fylde

Newcomers include Sedgley Tigers hooker Johnny Rodham, who has had substantial Premiership experience with Harlequins & Sale Sharks, & National One experience at Orrell, Doncaster & Sedgley, backrower Laurie Smith (Capoterra, Italy), centre Ollie Moore (Preston Grasshoppers), former Loughborough University flanker Steve McGuinnes and half-back or fullback Ryan Riches from Fleetwood. Fly-half and goal kicker Tom Barlow returns to the club following a ten year career at Plymouth, Penzance, Nottingham & Rotherham. He has also played with Premiership clubs Leicester Tigers and Sale. Other 'returners' are 19 year old centre Alex Hurst, who played for the club in 2008 and joins from Warrington Wolves RL, and former Burnley prop Nick Cassidy who last wore the claret & gold in 2001/2.

Mid-season the Club recruited 20 year old winger Taylor Welch, a member of the extended USA Eagles 7s & 15s squads, who has played in the SuperLeague with Warrington Wolves RL. He has joint US & British nationality.

Departures include fly-half Steve Nutt and flankers Dan Bowman & Dan Palmer, all of whom return to former clubs, Sedgley Tigers, Workington Zebras & Birkenhead Park respectively. Centre Tom Albinson joins Rossendale, fly-half Mark Edwards moves to local rivals Preston Grasshoppers and hooker Chris Tyms has moved to Birkenhead Park. Neil Hunter has gone north of the border to a role of Community Development Coach at Forrester RFC/Edinburgh Academicals.

On the coaching front, Dave Wilks has moved up to be forwards player-coach.  

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Harrogate

Newcomers include four Bradford & Bingley players - flanker Neil Spence, prop Rob Wilson & lock Steve Burns. Other recruits rumoured to have joined the club include three from Otley - backrow Max Lewis, Yorkshire county winger Steve Parsons and centre Kyle Dench. In early December 2009 Spence decided to jump ship and has joined league rivals Hull RUFC.

Additionally, other newcomers include utility back Danny McGee (Halifax), hooker Harry Hanan (Leeds Academy), scrum-half William Robinson (Doncaster) and flanker Tim Heaton who has returned from travelling.

Departures include Ian Culligan (Wharfedale), Luke Fowles (Macclesfield), James Henry (Otley), Gareth Lodge (Darlington MP), James Murray (Otley), JP Pretorious (Hull) & Nick Wainwright (Cleckheaton).

Source: Harrogate Advertiser & Rugby Times

Huddersfield

Newcomers at Lockwood Road include former Western Province, Cardiff Blues and Doncaster left winger Donovan Van Vuuren, ex-Leeds, Halifax and Manchester flanker Gareth Lewis and top Huddersfield YMCA prospect Adam Ryder.

But the biggest capture is 32-year-old former England back rower Dan Hyde who has returned to his home town club. His rugby career took him to West Hartlepool, Premiership side Leeds Carnegie and then playing and coaching at Otley in National League I. He'll take on the role of forwards coach at Lockwood Park.

Source: Huddersfield Examiner

Hull

Newcomers include free scoring Otley & Yorkshire winger and goal kicker Robin Kitching along with former Otley colleague veteran 36 year old prop Kris Fullman. Captures from neighbours Hull Ionians are prop Andy Gravell and backrower Dan Zgoda. In early December 2009 former England Counties flanker Neil Spence joined the Club from league rivals Harrogate. Samoan born New Zealander RL star Motu Tony (28) joined the club in late December. He collected 18 caps for his country at RL, won the Tri-Nations with New Zealand in 2005 and has played for Auckland Warriors, Brisbane Broncos, Castleford and then Hull FC, picking up a Challenge Cup medal along the way.

Amongst a number of promising young new players is former Sedbergh School star, backrower Ben Dorrington who is at Bishop Burton College Rugby Academy in Yorkshire.

Players who left in the summer of 2009 included Jeff Peek (Beverley). 

Source: Hull Daily Mail and Hull RUFC website.

Hull Ionians

Newcomers include fly-half Andy Barrass (Thorne), scrum-half Joe Bartlett (Bradford & Bingley), utility backs James Endersby & Iain Gordon (Halifax), flanker Callum MacKenzie (Doncaster, on loan), lock Joseph Makin (Doncaster, on loan), wing Oliver Marns (Halifax), lock Tim Mennell (Halifax) and centre Steve Slingsby (Doncaster, on loan). 

Stephen Townend is now Director of Rugby with Mick Watson continuing as Head Coach.

Source:Hull Ionians website & private correspondence.

Kendal

The most notable 'newcomer' is Kiwi flanker Nick 'Noodles' McKain who had two seasons at Mint Bridge in 2006/7 & 2007/8 before returning to his home land. He has now returned and has re-joined the club. More local additions to the squad include 25 years old no 8 Gary Hodgson (Aspatria) and flanker Matt Charters (22, Carlisle). The new goal kicker is young centre Mark Ireland.

Sources: Kendal website

Leicester Lions

New recruits include Corben Anders (South Africa), lock Thomas Cheney (Rugby), no 8 Andrew Dockray (Preston G.), prop Phil Greenbury (Rugby), lock Jim Matthews (South Leicester), centre Scott Morris (Stourbridge), centre Pepe Nanci (Luton), flanker Francis Nock (Kenilworth), scrum-half Ashley Stephens (South Leicester), prop Jamie Tyers (Rugby) & backrow Adam Varley (Leicester Tigers).  

Departures include Billy Blair (Market Harborough), Gary Marshall and Allan Mitchell (both Oadby Wyggestonians), Jody Peacock & Stuart Pearman (Nuneaton OE), and Adam Pegg.

Source: Leicester Mercury & Rugby Times

Loughborough Students

The Students proved to be the outstanding newcomers to the division last season. A fine array of talent was on display and there's little doubt that 2009-10 will be any different. New recruits include Caldy's accomplished openside flanker Matt Lamming.

Departures include last seasons top scorer Grant Pointer (Northampton Saints) Mike Coady (Leeds Rhinos RL); Chris Locke, Dan Falvey, Simon Lilley and Will Chudley (all Bedford Blues), Simon Pitfield (Canada), Evan Stewart (Macclesfield), Paul Trendell (Henley), Tom Urpens & David Vincent (Barking) & Henry Pyrgos (London Scottish). 

Source: Contributor to National League Rugby Message Board

Macclesfield

Macc are another club that has recruited heavily, locally and further afield.

Newcomers to Priory Park include: Tom Mantell (prop, Manchester), Josh Cammiss (lock, Halifax), Tim Longton (backrow, Lydney), Evan Stewart (backrow, formerly Loughborough Students skipper), Luke Stringer (scrum-half, Sedgley Park), Matt Simpson (centre, Leeds Met.), Matt O’Reagan (outside back, Manchester), Josh Sargent (centre or 9, Lydney), Luke Fowles (wing, Harrogate), Josh Hodkinson (wing or 9, Sedbergh School), Fraser Hall (backrow, Halifax), Chris Brian (prop, returning after a year out).

Also, Henry Platt (hooker, Manchester), Jason Duffy (centre, Waterloo), Matt Owen (lock/backrow, Manchester) & Tom Eaton (fly-half, Manchester).

Departures include Craig Smithson (to Caldy), Ollie Hewitt (to Burnage), Dave Westhead (to Liverpool SH), Alex Donaldson & Ian Roberts (both Wilmslow), Dan Duggan (Newport, Salop) & Simon Welch (Bournemouth).

Source: Macclesfield website

Rugby Lions

Rugby Lions will be led by joint head coaches Pete Glackin and Steve Halsey in 2009-10. They replace Director of Coaching Mark Ellis who resigned after the end of last season.

Departures include Tom Cheney (Leicester Lions), Phil Greenbury (Leicester Lions), James Hadfield (Henley), James Hawken (Olney), Sam Overton (Kenilworth), Harry Owens (Barking), Stuart Riding (Barking), Mike Rust (Kenilworth) & James Tyers (Leicester Lions).

Source: Rugby Lions website & Rugby Advertiser

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Waterloo

New Director of Rugby is former Wales international lock Steve Moore.

Newcomers to their squad include fly-half Liam McGovern from rugby league club Rochdale Hornets. He was formerly with St Helens & England Academy and moved on to skipper Swinton Lions and then the Hornets. Also hooker Tom Bower (St Edwards OB), flanker Chris Lamontagne (St Edwards OB), flanker Njike 'Cheeky' Tchakoute (who has rejoined the Club from Birkenhead Park), front rowers Sean Gibney (West Park) & David Giles, and Polish fullback Krzysztof Korbelewski. An arrival in October was Argentinian prop Bruno Pani who returns to Blundellsands after a season playing professional rugby in Spain. He last played for 'Loo in the 2007/8 season following a couple of campaigns at Italian club Parma. Another overseas player is Belgian international wing/full back Noam Dubart. Highly experienced Kiwi prop Kenni Barrett, formerly with Leicester Lions, Luton & Bedford Athletic, also arrived at Blundellsands in October.

Players who have moved on include prop James Hall (Coventry), hooker Peter Ince, prop Liam McLoughlin & winger Neil Kerfoot, all to Caldy. Former player coach Martin 'Cakes' O'Keefe and centre Freeman Payne have joined Birkenhead Park. Jason Duffy has retired through injury.

 Source: Liverpool Daily Post & Waterloo website.