06/02/13…..British Lions Craig Chalmers to join Chinnor RFC

BRITISH Lions and Scotland player Craig Chalmers will be joining Chinnor RFC with effect from March, 2013 as the club’s First Team Coach.

Jason Bowers has resigned following a promotion within the RFU as Area Facilities and Funding Manager. He will however, be maintaining a close link with the Club both in a professional and in a personal capacity.

Jason arrived at Chinnor RFC from Tring RFC half way through the 2006/7 season when Chinnor were finding it tough at National 2 level. After the team was relegated he was responsible for promotion at the end of the following season. There then followed a period of consolidation and rebuilding that Jason oversaw, with the emphasis on developing local and home grown players. This culminated in Chinnor RFC’s most successful season at this level, gaining promotion currently sitting seventh in National league 2 South.

Jason Bowers himself commented: “My time at Chinnor RFC have been my most rewarding years at a rugby club. I have been blessed with getting together a bunch of players who have excelled and shown the utmost commitment. Because of this combined with the desire to improve, we have entered a fantastic period for the club and one I believe in which we can continue to grow. This, allied with the fantastic support from all of the people behind the scenes, the other coaches and the Executive behind the senior squad, has meant that we have exceeded our expectations.

“Chinnor RFC is a true community club and I am sure they will continue to go from strength to strength.”

New man, Craig Chalmers, gained 60 caps for Scotland between 1989-1999 and played for both the British and Irish Lions. He finished his playing career with Melrose RFC one of the oldest clubs in the world
where he remained as Coach, winning the Scottish Premier Division title in 2011 and 2012.

President of Chinnor RFC, Simon Vickers, said: “We cannot praise Jason highly enough for the energy and
attention he has put in over the years for Chinnor RFC. He is leaving us on a high and he should be proud of
his achievements. To enter our 50th year with our best ever showing at National 2 level is outstanding. We
hope that Jason will always hold the club close to his heart and will be a regular visitor in the future. It is perhaps a mark of our on-going success and enthusiasm that we have been able to secure the services of the top flight former international and Coach Craig Chalmers.

“Albeit Melrose play at a higher level than Chinnor, it is clear that they operate with similar principles of whole club Rugby and we are sure that Craig will be
instrumental in securing our current position and enabling the players to continue to develop.?

Craig Chalmers commented: “I have been impressed with the set up at Chinnor RFC and it is clear to me that
there is a sound platform to continue building on past successes. Whilst it will be sad to leave a club with whom I have spent very many happy years as player and coach, I look forward to my new challenge down South.”

Craig will join the club on March 19, as 1st XV Director of Rugby, a role he will relinquish at the end of this season and become First team Coach when Jason departs.

SOURCE; Press release
PHOTO: Courtesy of BordersRugby.net