“A HELLHOLE” was how James Percival branded the Greene King IPA Championship when Worcester Warriors’ relegation was confirmed last May.
His somewhat frightening description of English rugby’s second tier did not exactly dress it up as something Worcester’s players would be looking forward to digging themselves out of.
But as the Championship season starts to heat up, Percival admitted the unearthing of a number of talented youngsters at the club has made the league a more pleasant experience this time around.
“I think the boys have responded really well as they are just thriving in it,” he said. “The Championship is even better for young players as they are able to learn their trade a little bit more and get the sort of exposure they might not have got if we were in the Premiership.
“The likes of Max Stelling might not have been playing every week because if you lose a game in the Premiership and you are in trouble you tend to just go back to what you know, so this is a great year for people to grow and for the club to explore different players.”
The 31-year-old has found himself playing for the Worcester Cavaliers this season, while promising locks Darren O’Shea and Mike Williams have been given the chance to shine in the first team.
However, Percival, who has previously played in the Championship with Harlequins and Coventry, said Warriors’ second string side, which reached the final of the Aviva A League, has fuelled his passion to play the game.
“I don’t think I have played in it for seven or eight years,” Percival added. “But having gone into it, I have found the attitude of the boys who have perhaps not been playing first team rugby really good. They just want to go out there and enjoy themselves, which has created a real buzz and has rubbed off on me.
“They had something special going on there and you saw that with their performances in the A League.
“To lose in the matter they did in the final was disappointing as they weren’t able to play their brand of rugby due to the weather conditions.
“But the boys should be positive by what they have achieved throughout the year and I am sure will all learn from it.”