Ryan pleased to seal Baldwin's signature - The Worcester Observer

Ryan pleased to seal Baldwin's signature

Worcester Editorial 27th Feb, 2015 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Ryan believes new recruit Luke Baldwin made a mistake when he turned down Worcester Warriors’ original offer in 2013 to join Bristol.

But the Warriors boss said this was not enough to stop him offering the promising former Saracens scrum half a second opportunity to sign for the club.

Carl Kirwan will follow Baldwin to Sixways in the summer and Ryan revealed the London Welsh flanker also decided against joining Worcester when he first approached him about a possible move.

“I think some people make mistakes and that’s the reality of it,” Ryan said. “Carl thought that London Welsh were in a position that he could have another year.




“You have got to remember that these guys are extremely loyal so they want things to work and sometimes it doesn’t.

“I think Luke moved mid-season which meant we could not accommodate him, so he made the choice to go to Bristol at that time and he subsequently feels here is a better place for him to fulfil his career.


“You have to live by those decisions and sometimes they are not always right. Sometimes you get a second chance and sometimes you don’t.

“There are players that we spoke to a year ago that we are no longer interested in and that’s life.

“We are now building a reputation of being a place where we can enhance players’ careers and create opportunities to play.

“We also play a decent style of rugby and we look like a side that is moving forward and that is becoming an attractive proposition that people want to get involved in.”

Baldwin will face a tough challenge for the number nine jersey at Warriors next season as it is already contested by Jonny Arr, Charlie Mulchrone, JB Bruzulier and George De Cothi.

However, Ryan believes the extra competition will help to boost players’ performances as they look to secure the scrum half spot.

“Luke is a hungry young lad who is looking for an opportunity,” Ryan added.

“He knows the competition, but he wants to get in the middle of that and feel like he has an avenue to play.

“It is for those scrum halves to respond to the challenge, so having another person in there really pushing is great.

“Look what has happened to Jonny this year. He is playing much better rugby than he has in the past because he has responded to the challenge.”

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