Young guns need to be on their guard - Percival - The Worcester Observer

Young guns need to be on their guard - Percival

Worcester Editorial 22nd May, 2014 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

INFLUENTIAL lock James Percival says Worcester Warriors’ exciting young squad will need to master rugby’s ‘dark arts’ to get out of the Championship.

Warriors ended their three-year spell in the Aviva Premiership with a 28-27 victory over Gloucester at Sixways last week.

Percival said he believed the win over their local rivals could be a springboard for his side as they aim to bounce back to the top flight at their first attempt.

However, the 30-year-old, who has experienced playing in the second tier with Harlequins and Coventry, said they cannot take teams for granted next season and he insisted it would be a steep learning curve for the club’s rising stars.




“It is going to feel like we have been put away in a hell hole for a year,” he said.

“I have had a couple of seasons in the Championship and I know you have to learn the dark arts of the game as you will be up against some old boys who have been around the block.


“I think our younger lads who will be playing out there will learn a lot from it, so hopefully when we come back up next year we will be able to give the Premiership a shock.”

Percival said he was keen to see Warriors’ academy aces get first team exposure in the Championship, But he admitted it would also be a big campaign for himself as he said he was looking forward to working with high performance director Nick Johnston on the training ground.

“I still want to be one of the best second rows in the Premiership, so I don’t want to relax,” he said.

“Without the week to week rigmarole of the Premiership, I will have time to work on my game, so I will be fresher when we come back up.

“I also think Nick Johnston’s experience is going to be a massive thing for us next year. He is going to kill me in training, but I am looking forward to it as it is going to improve me as a player.”

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Worcester Observer.

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Worcester Observer.