HEAD coach Jon Critchlow believes his new role at Pershore Rugby Club will be challenging but it’s something to which he is looking forward.

The 33-year-old former Bromsgrove player has made the switch to Pershore after being approached by the Midlands Four West (South) outfit.

As part of his full-time job with the Rugby Football Union, Critchlow has done a lot of work with Pershore over the past 18 months.

“I just wanted a fresh start and a new challenge in rugby and my move to Pershore came through a decision to stop playing at Bromsgrove.

“I have been a player/backs coach at Bromsgrove for the last three years and we finished off the season with a win at Lydney which was a nice way to go out.

“Pershore approached me about the coaching role and it fitted in with what I wanted to do.

“It’s a more local set-up and I have a young child at home and it fits well with me.

“I still want to be playing cricket and golf and plan to enjoy them when I get older so I wanted to concentrate on coaching.

“In my interview I told them I would be going to the club solely as a coach.

"I will still play in some veterans’ matches but I will no longer be playing competitively on a Saturday.”

Critchlow, who is also a member of Himbleton Cricket Club, intends to run most of the coaching sessions at Pershore.

“It will be just me heading up the coaching team,” he said.

“But I will be bringing in people with specific skill-sets for specific sessions when needed but it will be me overseeing it all.”

He says one of his major aims is to retain the playing group at Pershore and entice back those who have recently left or hanged up their boots.

“My aim is to retain as many of the group as possible and I will be seeing if we can encourage players who recently stopped playing to return,” he said.

“As a club, our main focus will always be to look to retain existing players rather than going out and actively trying to recruit players.”

He added: “Pershore have been very proactive on and off the field over the past 18 months.

“On the pitch, I know it will be challenging if the last two years are anything to go by but it’s something I am genuinely looking forward to.”

The senior players will be reporting back to training on July 4 at 7pm.