CINDERFORD captain George Porter has been backed to continue his great form in the amber, red and black after turning down other offers to sign a new deal to stay at Dockham Road.
Loosehead Porter will lead the Foresters once more in National Two South next year and director of rugby Paul Morris believes the former Worcester and Ealing Trailfinders prop ’deserves a huge amount of credit’.
“George was an outstanding signing for us last summer,” Morris said.
“He has been everything we wanted him to be. Firstly, his performance levels have been of a high quality all season, with no let up.
“Secondly, he has led a new squad of players with authority and intelligence. He deserves a huge amount of credit for both roles.
“His re-signing for next season, in the face of other offers, is great news for us and the stability of the playing side.”
Morris was also happy to announce the retention of the club’s coaches for next season.
Head coach Adam Balding, attack coach Clive Stuart-Smith and coaching consultant Andrew Stanley will all continue to work with Morris through 2017-18.
United coaches Richard Planchant and Seb Merritt will also return next season.
“We believe this stability and consistency is vital in our desire to progress,”
“Alongside our excellent medical team, they provide a professional leadership structure around the playing squad. We have our sights set on challenging at the top end of the league, as we need to keep improving and anything less would not be progress.”
Morris admitted that some players will leave the club, including James Tideswell who has agreed to move to Birmingham Moseley.
He added that Cinderford have made ’some significant signings’ which will be announced ’in due course’.
Other players who have already signed playing contracts for next season include Aaron Ryan, Alex Frame, Stuart-Smith, Dale Lemon, Dan Broady, Dino Dallavalle, Jack Shields, Jack Williams, James Moffat, Jimmy Williams, Liam Hemming, Matthew Bennett, Reuben Norville, Robert Winchle, Sam Baker, Sam Goatley, Stef Hawley, Terence Babarinsa, Tom Bozzard, Will Baldwin and Will Keenan.