Ex England scrum-half takes on Bridgnorth Rugby Football Club role

Former England international Shaun Perry has been named as part of a new coaching set-up at Bridgnorth Rugby Football Club.

Shaun Perry

The 35-year-old, who won 14 caps for England, has spent the last two years playing for Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership, but announced his retirement from the game earlier this year following a serious knee injury. He has now decided he wants to focus on a career in coaching.

Wolverhampton-born Shaun’s move to Bridgnorth reunites him with his former coach Dale Smallman, who has been named as the club’s Director of Rugby alongside his brother and Head Coach, Bryan Smallman.

Dale coached Shaun, whose title at Bridgnorth will be Skills Development Coach, when he began playing rugby in the Youth Section at Dudley Kingswinford RFC.

It is hoped the new set-up will be a catalyst for gaining Bridgnorth 1st XV promotion from the Midlands 2 West North in the next two years.

Peter Parkes, BRFC Chairman, said: “It is fantastic news that Bridgnorth Rugby Football Club have secured such an exceptional coaching set-up for next season. BRFC are focused on creating an environment where young and seasoned players can attain personal goals and develop their skills.”

Dale, who is Head of Sport at Telford College of Arts and Technology, played for Bridgnorth 1st XV as a 16-year-old before moving to Moseley. He has also played for the Royal Navy and Stourbridge.

Welcoming Shaun to the club, the Level 3 coach said: “Being involved in the early playing development of Shaun at DK was fantastic, we saw the talent and potential he had and in all honesty were surprised it took as long as it did for a professional club to pick him up. However, when Shaun got the opportunity he excelled expectations by playing at the very highest level.

“It will be a great opportunity to work with him again as he starts his journey on the coaching ladder – one I’m extremely excited and enthused about and again one I feel he could take to the highest level, and in the meantime the players and coaching staff at Bridgnorth will benefit greatly.”

He added: “My role is to create the very best learning environment where coaches and players are given the opportunity to reach their potential. I have a real passion for using the very latest coaching resources, including performance analysis video technology.

“However, these will only be truly effective from the important base of being a traditional rugby coach, where we all muck in for the benefit of the whole club.”

Dale, who co-ordinates the Worcester Warriors Elite Player Development Centre for the Shropshire area, is hoping to implement a Youth Development Programme at the club including introducing a 1st Team/Colts Mentoring Scheme.

Bryan, who began his rugby career at Bridgnorth at the age of 13 before going on as an adult to play for Stourbridge and Bridgnorth, said: “Our aim is to give the players everything they need to allow them to develop and compete for places in every team.

“Training sessions and game plans will be structured to give all the players training the chance to move up the teams and to do their bit when called upon to help the club move forward.”

Bryan was Assistant Coach at Bridgnorth last year and has previously coached at Kidderminster and was earlier in charge of Bridgnorth Colts.

Pre-season training is due to start on July 2 but before that there will be a Players’ Welcome Meeting at the Bulls Head, Bridge Street, Bridgnorth, on June 27 at 7pm.

New players are urged to attend the meeting and meet the coaches. For more information contact Dale on 07720 971694.

Ex England scrum-half takes on Bridgnorth Rugby Football Club role