FORMER Harlequins lock Mick Watson is the new senior coach at Pocklington RUFC, writes Steve Carroll.

The Percy Roaders, who will play in Yorkshire One next season after being promoted from Yorkshire Two as champions, are putting together a formidable coaching team.

Barrie Pearce will be alongside Watson as the club’s senior coach and will link up with the previous coaching group for the upcoming new season.

Watson spent a decade playing Premiership and European rugby with West Hartlepool and Harlequins and in Italy. He moved to East Yorkshire 11 years ago and has helped out at Pocklington on an ad hoc basis during his time as player-coach in the National Leagues with Wakefield and Hull Ionians.

Pearce also has a long association with Pocklington. He played with leading Lancashire outfit Orrell before coming to live in the town.

He had a stint in the Pock back row in the 1980s before embarking on a coaching career that has included stints at York’s Archbishop Holgate’s School and University of York.

His most recent posts have been as director of rugby at Leeds University and head coach at Beverley RUFC.

Pocklington will embark on full pre-season training at the beginning of July, but they will start Wednesday evening touch-rugby sessions to keep in trim in a couple of weeks.

The club’s annual general meeting is on Tuesday and the touch rugby sessions start the following evening. Players should meet at Percy Road at 6.45pm to jog down to the club’s Kilnwick Road ground.

New players of all levels are welcome. For more details, phone director of rugby Tim Clappison on 07802 348069 or first team captain Matt Webber on 07812 922201.