DORCHESTER Rugby Club have appointed former head coach Martin Oxland as their inaugural director of rugby.

With the promise of an exciting new season ahead, having finished strongly in fifth place last term in the Counties One Tribute Southern South table, Oxland comes into the new role with a fine pedigree and knowledge of the club and is also currently involved with the Dorset & Wilts setup.

Building on the fine work done by Josh Ovey, Oxland’s first task this season is to lead the senior coaching team he has put in place early.

Continuing in the attack and backs coaching role is Matt Read, alongside former first XV captain, Dave Gower, who takes up the role of assistant and defence coach.

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Gower will also support the team coaches across the men’s sides and Oxland is confident the playing group will benefit greatly from his first-team experience.

The first team will again be supported by Andy Haworth and Mark Adams, while Dave Clark remains the A team manager and coach, assisting the backs across the whole of the men’s teams.

Continuing in their roles this season leading on the pitch will be Steve Tucker as first XV captain and Jamie Jackson as A-team captain after last season’s successful campaigns.

Building up a home-grown coaching group is high on the agenda and some player-coaches will be mentored while attending RFU courses to add strength to the group and ensure the consistency over the coming seasons.

One of those will be former first XV prop Tom Evans who will support both the senior men’s players and Colts in a forwards role.

One of Oxland’s plans is to attract and develop the next crop of coaches from within the club, drawing on a wealth of experience and leadership within the senior group.

Implementing a crossover of both playing style and coaching framework down to the under-14 age group, starting this season with the Colts side, is an important way to integrate and build one club as Dorchester move forward.

Working with the Colts coaches, led by Tony O’Connell and assisted by Rob Parker and a number of other former senior players, Oxland will provide them with a plan similar to the senior men’s sides.

Working closely with junior chairman, Tom Bamlet, to share best practices and new methods across the junior coaching team is an important ongoing plan to strengthen the club for the future and build its already strong legacy.

As a club, Dorchester is making sure the offering to ladies and girls is a strong as it can be and is now part of the England Rugby Developing Player Programme in conjunction with Dorset & Wilts.

Former England player Lauren Leatherland is part of the strong and committed group making this happen.

Any new players are welcome to join a competitive forward-thinking club building for the future to be the best it can be in both the community and on the pitch.

With two very competitive senior men’s teams, a third XV social side and full junior section from under-six to Colts the club has much to offer boys and girls alongside senior players.

Dorchester’s first league fixture at home will be a strongly-contested local derby against near neighbours Swanage & Wareham on Saturday, September 2.