Graves cuts ties with Roughyeds

LONDONER Jack Graves has left Oldham Roughyeds to move back to the capital.

The 21-year-old back-row forward came to the club in the close season from Harlequins but has since found it difficult to settle in the north.

After featuring in a couple of pre-season games with the Roughyeds, Graves was not handed a squad number when coach Tony Benson named his 25-strong senior group and he now heads south with the best wishes of the club.

“Jack made a lot of sacrifices to leave home and move up here, but he has found it difficult to make an impact,” said chairman Chris Hamilton.

“Disruptions to training caused by the bad weather of the past couple of months hasn’t helped him, while he has also been struggling to find a full-time job.

“Life hasn’t been easy for him up here, but once he made up his mind he was going to leave us to go back home he went about things in the proper manner and we appreciate that.

“He goes back to London with our very best wishes and the hope that things work out for him in the future.”

The reserves squad, who have had three players in Chris Clarke, Ben Heaton and Scott Mansfield given first-team squad numbers this season, start the 2010 season with a friendly away at Keighley Cougars on Thursday (8pm kick-off).

Former Cougars scrum-half Paul Ashton will be on hand to guide coach John Hough’s men around the field after signing earlier this week in order to provide on-field guidance to the youngsters.

First-year professionals Michael Ward, Austen Barrowclough, Jacob Kinney, Ross Coates and Ben Marsden are likely to be involved in the game.




ADMISSION prices for this Sunday’s home Carnegie Challenge Cup third round tie against Welsh amateur side Blackwood Bulldogs have been set at £12 adults, £8 concessions and £5 for under-16s with an additional £2 cost to get a seat in the stand.



The game takes place at Sedgley Park RUFC with a 3pm kick-off and season ticket holders can gain access with their tickets, with seats reserved for them up until 2.45pm.