Loboda and Jones add to Hoppers Second Row Options

Date: 27 July 2022

PGRFC have moved to bolster their second row options with the arrivals of Max Loboda and Josh Jones. Both players will bring height to the squad with Max standing at 6’8” whilst Josh hits the tape at 6’5”.

Max (pictured above right) is part of the Polish national squad having broken into the Poland train on performance squad in 2020. He studied at Rossall where he represented the England Independent Schools Lambs XV which is an alternative elite player pathway route for up and coming players. On leaving Rossall he took a place at Brunel University and became part of the Ealing Trailfinders Academy program. Having returned to the North West, he is keen to develop his game and become a regular international with Poland.

Josh (pictured above left) is a former Kirkham Grammar School pupil who is a product of the Leigh RFC club from whom he joins PGRFC. Equally at home in both the second row and at blindside, he has previously represented Lancashire at Age Group levels including U20s and was a team mate of Max in the England Independent School Lambs XV, who he represented at both 7s and 15 a side. He was also selected to go on the England Lambs tour to South Africa whilst he was also part of the Sale Sharks Academy structure during his time at KGS.

Head Coach Joel Unsworth said “On taking the Head Coach role it was said that the squad has been lacking some stand out height in recent seasons so the additions of Max and Josh will certainly go some way to changing that. Both are promising players who are working hard in pre-season and I believe both will push hard for starting places in the season ahead. We are starting to build some real competition in the back five of the scrum and have a good mixture of players to select from. We’ve certainly boosted our lineout options with the addition of Max, Josh, Scott and Joe and we will be working hard on our set piece game. Max and Josh have plenty of potential growth in their game and I am really enjoying working with them in pre-season”.

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