Birmingham and Solihull name Long as skipper
Birmingham and Solihull have turned to experienced player Matt Long to be their captain for an important season in the Championship.
Long is one of the club's longest serving players and many have already agreed that there was no one better to come in and do the job. He will have a tough time but the club insist anything is possible next season.
There were a number of other candidates who could have captained the team but it seems the club wanted someone who could control and get the best out of a small squad. This is very important when you consider there are some very competitive clubs in the Championship this season.
Long will have many personal qualities that he can display during his new role in the team and he will have to do this consistently. He will also have to fend off the pressure of being captain at times as well as a great deal of expectation.
Personal Qualities
Long is a very big, strong and charismatic player who carries a presence around the rugby field. He can use this to his advantage to demand the respect he wants as captain from the rest of his team. This is important because it should spread discipline around the side.
He is a very vocal player who can get his message across. He can use this to organise the team if they are under pressure during a game. Many players look to their captain for help when backs are against the wall when playing better teams.
There will be times during the season when Long needs to step in and curb the temper of a few players. There will obviously be a few wrong decisions during the course of the season and Long has to make sure no one gets in to trouble through what they say to officials.
The club's Direct of Rugby Russel Earnshaw said: "Matt demands and earns respect from everybody at the club, from the players to the management. He's a quality player and has bags of experience, which is vital for us going into the new Championship campaign."
Other Factors
Long will have to take on responsibilities that he will not be used to in his role as captain. He will be under pressure to represent the club all of the time when he is on and off the field.
The younger members of the club are going to be constantly looking up to him for support in times of need. This means he has to make sure that he can make enough free time to help other players in the squad and guide them in the right direction in matters that don't necessarily relate to rugby.
Earnshaw added: "His influence on some of the younger players in our squad and his standing with the senior members will help to drive us forward towards achieving our goals for the season."
Betting Advice
Birmingham and Solihull are one of the outside bets for promotion from the Championship to the Premiership. They will find it very difficult to succeed because the likes of Worcester and Bristol are in much better situations. This means they will have to play constantly out of their skin to win matches against better teams.
Long's playing influence could well be muted through his new role in the respect that he won't score many points. He will have a lot of other things to worry about and is likely to let the younger and faster players run around the pitch and play a more conservative role himself.
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