Cornish Pirates

Bristol

Despite several newspaper reports stating that Alex Crockett’s move to Worcester Warriors for the start of next season was a done deal the player has insisted that he has yet to make his mind up on the move.

The 28 year-old centre joined Bristol on January 1^st and made his debut on Match 7^th against Nottingham on completion of his nine month ban from the sport for missing two drugs tests whilst a Bath player.

However a hamstring niggle has restricted his comeback to just 71 minutes of action and he was left out of the squad to face the Cornish Pirates last weekend fuelling speculation that he is ready to move on.

Crockett told the Bristol Evening Post, “I haven't made any decision yet. I have had so many things to think about in the last few months and I am just enjoying being back.”

He continued, “I am not in a position to make any decisions yet, and I am trying to concentrate on playing rugby and helping Bristol get promoted. I will make a decision in due course."

Bristol expect to include fit-again club captain Roy Winters and centre Sam Giddens for Saturday`s trip to Bedford. However Tom Arscott (hamstring) and hooker David Blaney (groin) are definitely out.

Coventry

The immediate future of Coventry RFC appears to be safe after chairman Peter Rossborough and Coventry City Council announced that the club had successfully negotiated a 125-year lease to play at the Butts Park Arena.

Full story www.coventrytelegraph.net

Exeter Chiefs

Back-rower James Scaysbrook is back from the cold after being selected to start for Exeter Chiefs in their second Championship play-off game tomorrow.

The former Bath man was left out of the squad altogether last week but has been chosen among the 1st XV for this weekend's home game against pool B leaders London Welsh. Andy Miller misses out this week.

Centre Nic Sestaret has also been declared fit to start, which allows Phil Dollman to move to the full-back berth. Hoani Tui has come into the front row with Chris Budgen moving to the bench.

Head coach Rob Baxter said: "Scays might bring a bit more direction to what we are aiming to do. I'm not against changing quality players in the squad.

We are not going to stick to the same XV through the play-offs. There are horses for courses throughout the season. I just think it's the right thing to do; it's tough on Andy, but James is a performer and has played in some big games for us this season.

"To have Nic back is a bonus as he is one of our form players and we can play Phil at full-back. Bryan is also 100 per cent fit this week."

Baxter added: "We just need to get ourselves back on track and the only way you can do that is to go out and play."

Scaysbrook said: "We are looking to put some things right this weekend and I want to be part of that. We have had a good hard look at ourselves; it was not the way we wanted to start the play-offs.

"There will not be any easy games among these play-offs. Everything is very different now; there is much more intensity."

Plymouth Albion

Albion are sweating on the fitness of prop Martin Rice and back row Tom Skelding for Sunday`s trip to Camborne. Both players face a race against time to be fit for the match against the Pirates and have not yet trained this week after picking up knocks against Bedford.

Chairman of rugby Graham Dawe told The Herald,
“Martin and Tom have heavily bruised bodies. They took some heavy blows last week, but they have been having intensive treatment to make sure they are fit to train later this week."

He continued,
"Martin is a very important player for Plymouth Albion. He gets through an immense amount of work; he is a principle ball carrier; and is a good scrummager and defender. He is a very good player for Plymouth.

"He gives the boys so much confidence when he is playing and they all look up to him. We are hopeful he and Tom will be okay."