Preston Grasshoppers is pleased to announce that 3 key payers from the current 1st XV squad have signed up for the 2015-16 season.
Back row colleagues Andy Napier and Chris Taylor as well as wing/full back Scott Jordan have all put pen to paper and committed for the next year.
Napier was crowned players’ player at the end of season dinner last week after making 23 appearances during the season, crossing for 4 tries in the process. Andy’s award at the dinner represented the end of a remarkable comeback as just 18 months ago he suffered a horrendous break of his tibia and fibia and suffered a dislocation of the ankle. It is testament to Andy’s character that he was able to return to 1st XV action by the start of the season and went on to be a key part of the 1st XV pack. Commenting on next season Napier said “I’ve re-signed for next season purely for the fact that from pulling on a hoppers shirt at the age of 8 there isn’t any other club I would want to play for. There are exciting times ahead for this team, this club, and I want to be a part of it!”.
Taylor, who joined the club in 2013, has established himself as a firm fixture in the 1st XV back row and his contributions were also recognised at the dinner last week as he was named 1st XV Player of the Year. Chris also proved to have a knack for getting over the whitewash and he ended up as the leading try scorer in the forwards with 7 tries. When asked why he had committed for another season Taylor said “Preston is an extremely welcoming club. There is an abundance of talent in this young squad and with a few new heads next year we should be aiming to compete at the top end of the table which we have shown we are able to do on a number of occasions this year.”
Full back or winger Jordan joined part way through the season from National One Wharfedale after he moved to the area with his job. He soon settled into the side and made 16 appearances on both the wing and in the 15 shirt. His elusive running proved game changing as the pitches started to harden up towards the end of the season and he managed to touchdown for 6 tries. Jordan echoed his team mates by saying “We are starting to build something strong. We are a young squad who will only get better. I’m looking forward to hopefully pushing top of table and turning the narrow losses of this year into W’s next year!”
Needless to say all three players signed off with the same phrase. “Once a Hopper, always a Hopper!”.
We’ll be bringing you more news on players who have re-signed as well as new signings in the coming days.
