Latest news with #EastKilbrideRugbyClub
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride Rugby coach wants 'culture change' at club as he eyes promotion charge
Franklin Clark is keen to change behaviour that he says has cost the team East Kilbride Rugby Club boss Franklin Clark says changing the culture at the club can have them challenging for the West League 1 title next season. Clark says their summer rebuilding programme will be crucial to that, but he first has to convince existing players to stay on, while blending that with an emerging crop of youngsters. The Torrance House gaffer reckons he needs 'two or three' experienced players in key positions to give him a squad that's capable of striving for National League rugby. But things will first have to change. Clark said: 'We're looking to win the title or get promoted next season. 'We're looking to recruit fairly strongly, and we're looking to improve the culture within the club. 'The culture within the playing squad has not been quite what I wanted this season, and we've spoken about it with the other coaches and the players. 'We're keen to change some of the behaviours that have had a negative effect on us at particularly critical times. 'We've been fairly clear about that, and I think if we manage to do that successfully, we should be challenging up at the top end of the league. 'The summer is very important, because we need to make sure not only do we recruit new players, but we retain players as well. 'That's always an issue, some players get a bit frustrated if they've been playing in West 1 for a few seasons and think 'I want to play higher up with East Kilbride, but if they're not getting promoted, I need to go somewhere else to play a higher level of rugby'. 'No matter what club I've been at, it has always been an issue, trying to convince people, unless you're getting promoted. 'That's one of the challenges of being a coach, and that's my job.' Clark's side finished fifth in West Region One this season, just behind local rivals Strathaven on points difference, while also reaching the final of the National Shield, where they lost to Lenzie. To build on that, Clark knows some strength in depth will be required but has revealed he will be without one key man for next season's promotion push for the National Leagues. Clark added: 'I think we need two or three, maybe, players in key positions, and retain the ones that we've got. 'There is at least one guy who has already intimated that he wants to retire – Mark Ellison – so we need to replace him. 'Mark is hoping to stay on at the club in some sort of coaching capacity, which I've asked him to do as well, so that's quite good. 'With young guys coming in, hopefully we can blend them in with some experienced East Kilbride guys and some experienced guys we can recruit from elsewhere. '
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride Rugby Club coach praises 'outstanding' star as he scoops two awards
Loose-head prop Alistair Marriott won big at the club's annual awards East Kilbride Rugby Club head coach Franklin Clark heaped praise on player of the year Alistair Marriott after the loose-head prop claimed two prizes at their annual awards night. Marriott won Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year in a season where the club reached the National Shield final and finished fifth in West Region One. Clark said: 'Ally has been absolutely outstanding in just about every game he has played. Everything you would want out of a guy as a rugby player, he brings it. "He does everything he is asked to do, he carries hard, he tackles hard and encourages all the other players. 'He is a model team-mate and player, so he thoroughly deserves both of his awards.' There were plenty of other awards handed out on the night, as scrum half Justin Ludick won Young Player of the Year after a fine first season since moving from South Africa to study. Clark said: 'Justin has had a great season. He is only a young kid who has come to Scotland this past year to study. He has fitted in really well and become an integral part of the team, so he has been really good. 'It has got to have been difficult for him, coming to a different country and trying to fit into a new team when he doesn't know anybody. 'He says he will stick around next season after he goes back home in the summer to see his family.' Most Improved Player went to Craig McKenzie and Clark said: 'Craig has just done everything asked of him. He is quite a good organiser in defence.' There was a joint award in the category of Top Try Scorer with Evan Martin and Ross McKeown sharing the prize, while Rory Blackwood won the Top Points award. Clark said: 'Both Evan and Ross have had great seasons. Evan probably would have scored more tries but he got injured. He got injured in the Shield semi-final and missed the final. "He only came back in our last game and he was determined to get two tries to finish top scorer, but he only managed the one. 'Ross has been immense. I think he has scored a try in just about every game he has played this season. He is full of heart and running, a great ball carrier, and just what we were needing this season.' Meanwhile, it was announced that Mark Ellison has decided to hang up his boots after 15 years and 200 appearances with the club, which included winning promotion to National League Three and captaining the side to their 2019 West Shield victory. He was presented with a special 200th cap to make the milestone and it was presented by Robert MacKinnon, who has been made honorary vice president for life following 23 years of service.
