Cumbria’s long-serving head coach Dan Bowman has been looking ahead to the start of the Bill Beaumont County Championship this weekend.
They have been preparing to face Durham at Kendal and then have Northumberland at Penrith and finally Cheshire at Chester.
Bowman has been involved with Cumbria rugby every season since 1987 — first as a player, then as a coach — leading the county side since 2009.
In that time, he has represented Cumbria over 40 times on the pitch.
“County rugby success comes down to how well the players pull together,” he says. “A good county player has no ego — they fit into the team, they’re fully committed, and they bring a strong skill set.
“Because we have so little time together, the team has to be player-led, with experienced players shaping our style of play.”
Particularly excited about this year’s group, the former Workington and Kendal forward says: “It’s the perfect combination of youth and experience, and that’s what makes a winning side.
“We’re focused on building the right culture between players and staff, and that’s what will make this a successful Cumbrian team.”
This year’s 23-man squad offers an exciting blend of youth and experience, drawn from 11 clubs across Cumbria.
The coaching team spoke to every club in the county to find the right mix of established stars and emerging talent from levels seven and eight.
The starting line-up has been confirmed as: 1. Aaran Sullivan (Aspatria); 2. Tom Graham (Carlisle); 3. Jack Gaskell (Penrith); 4. Ant Davies (Penrith); 5. Oscar Coxon (Kendal); 6. Alistair Thompson (Kendal); 7. Tom McCullough (capt, Northern); 8. Pete Weightman (V-capt, Keswick); 9. Richard Addison (Upper Eden); 10. Aaron Stephens (Kendal); 11. Dan Shorrock (Kendal); 12. Alfie Bradshaw (Kendal); 13. Ben Dixon (Kendal); 14. Ben O’Halloran (Kendal); 15. Lewis Tingey (Carlisle).
Replacements – 16. Adam Brough (Cockermouth); 18. Alex Briggs (Kirkby Lonsdale); 19. Chris Graham (Aspatria); 20. Finn Kennedy (Carlisle); 21. Ben Clark (Keswick); 22. Lewis Bell (Keswick); 23. Ryan Scott (Aspatria); 24. Flynn Manihera (Wigton).
Coaching staff: Dan Bowman, head coach, assisted by Reece Tomlinson, Gareth Gore and Chris Park. Performance manager: Gary Hewer. Physio: James Watson, kit & logistics support: Jason Donoghue. Logistics support: John Ladell. Team manager: Elliot Walker.
