There is no doubt he will be missed this season. His total commitment and ability to put a spark into a game has been invaluable as has his infectious enthusiasm.
Mash gets the chance to fill the No 15 boots and, if he continues his form from the end of last season, he will soon make his mark. Following the Rovers 7s he vowed to get superfit during the summer and if he can add consistency to his undoubted silky skills.
Otherwise the squad which gets on the charabanc at 10.30 on Saturday will be very familiar. Tom Dixon would have been in with a big shout of a game but is away caneoing, while fellow Colt Jonathon Norris is out for 6 weeks with niggling hand injury. With reports that Ryan Phullips has been getting a bit fitter we might actually have competition in the front row before long! We just need Chummer and Carlo Robinson to start training hard.
With the Stags at home to Barnard Castle in their own friendly [kick off 3.00] it will be a relatively small first team squad which takes on Vale. Other pre-season games are, of course, Brett's XV against the RFU wooden Spoon AAs a week on Sunday followed by the first team trip to Gateshead the following Saturday.