Hoppers Squad Update 3 – Familiar Faces Return to the Green

Date: 23 August 2021

PGRFC are thrilled to announce the return of a number of familiar faces to the club.

Scrum half Harrison Moulding returns after two seasons at Rossendale whilst Back Rower Sam Gale and Centre/Full Back Alex Taylorson return after a similar stint at neighbours Blackburn. Popular winger/centre Antony Elliott is another to return after several seasons playing and travelling in Australia whilst back rower James Hesketh returns to the club after completing his studies away from the area. 

All five are products of the Hoppers M&Y system and their return to the fold after several seasons experiencing other environments is a positive position for the club. 

Director of Rugby Gareth Dyer said “I am absolutely delighted to see the return of these five young men to Lightfoot Green. They are all very talented players who came through the club and have now all got plenty of experience under their belts. We were really disappointed to lose the guys initially but it’s also important that they’ve had that experience in good clubs elsewhere. When you have only known one thing it can become a stale experience and whilst we took a lot of criticism when Harry, Sam and Alex left to join other clubs, stepping back from the emotional side of that, I felt it was in their best interests to do so. I did it myself and it does give you a good sense of perspective. I think all five of them return to the club determined to make a mark on the squad and I’ve challenged them all to do so, not just on the field. 

We are proud to develop players through our M&Y system and we’ve some special announcements to make in the coming days about what we are doing to strengthen that pathway. Clearly having homegrown players competing in the 1st XV provides youngsters with role models to aspire to so having a bigger core of home-grown players is important. There are a number of other former Hoppers youngsters playing elsewhere at present and it would be great to see them back at Lightfoot Green in the future”.

Keep an eye out for John Le Page’s player interviews where he’ll be talking to our returning players. 

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