Hopefuls look to make impression at Army Rugby Union trial day
Army Rugby Union were on the lookout for new talent at a trials day in Aldershot.
A chance to refresh the talent pool came in the form of a U23s v Seniors trials match.
There hasn't been an Inter Services campaign since 2019, meaning all three services will have new-look teams for the 2022 competition.
"The pleasing thing for me is over the last three days, I've seen 100 people in a red shirt which, post-pandemic, is absolutely amazing," said Captain Mal Roberts, the head coach of the Army senior team.
"There's some really good performances out there, not just from the senior trial group but also from the under 23s today, I thought they made a good showing of themselves."
Capt Roberts says combining current and new talent will be crucial to the team's success.
"There's got to be fresh talent coming through, there's got to be individuals that step up to the plate that have had previous experience," he said.
"For me, it's about getting that blend.
"You need to have that certain level of experience within the squad.
"However, if the talent then outweighs the experience, you'd be naive as a head coach not to give those talented players the opportunity."
WATCH: Army U23s fall to another defeat ahead of the Inter Services.
Captain Jamie Miller has been the leader of the Army team for previous campaigns.
His experience will be vital as they look to find the right mixture of new talents and seasoned Inter Services veterans.
He said: "It's very much a fresh start.
"It feels like that certainly – two seasons is a long time to be away and I think what we can't do is rest on the laurels that we had last time we were together because there's a huge amount of things that have changed.
"We've lost some really key players and there's some huge new talent which we've seen.
"That’s really going to shape what we do."
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