Weybridge Vandals
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Weybridge Vandals
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
If your club had just won promotion and added a county cup triumph to
go with it, would you expect to change your coaching set-up?
That is the unusual step Weybridge Vandals had
to take this summer as the club prepares to make their
return to the London leagues after a 22-18 promotion
play-off success at Hampshire outfit Sandown
& Shanklin in April.
Head coach Merlin O’Donnell
stepped down from his role for
pastures new after a thrilling 31-25
Surrey Cup win over Old Mid-
Whitgiftians in May.
He has since been replaced
by Damian Porter as the club’s
rugby section, under chairman
Ken Sewell, look to consolidate
their position in London
Division Three South West,
having bounced back from
relegation to Surrey One in 2018.
Porter, a level three RFU coach,
will combine his role with his work as
part of Premiership new boys London
Irish’s academy.
The overhaul of the coaching staff is a nod
towards the club’s ambitions and Sewell is hoping
Vandals can ride the wave of optimism at their
Brownacres home after a season of success.
“The mood at the club is hugely positive,” he said this
week. “Most if not all of our objectives we set this time
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last year - both on and off the field - have been exceeded.
The first team were promoted, the second team finished
top of their league and both teams won their respective
cups.
“Several junior players attained
county honours, while the colts and
U21 groups have developed in
a short space of time and are
becoming a real first-rate group.
“Following promotion last
year, the senior section will
be looking to consolidate its
position with longer term
ambition as the youth comes
through.
“We are growing our
coaching team to develop on the
work carried out by our previous
coach and will continue to grow
the mini and junior sections to help
develop the success of the colts and
U21s.”
Vandals, London Division Four South
West champions in 2009, have been as high as London
Division Two South West in the RFU pyramid in recent
years.
While youngsters such as James Gulliver and Max
Ayling have earned international age group honours