Worcester Warriors sign flanker Sam Betty from rival Cornish Pirates – Rugby News
2011/12 Aviva Premiership debutants, Worcester Warriors, have strengthened their squad for their Premiership return with the signing of flanker Sam Betty, from their Rugby Football Union (RFU) Championship rivals, Cornish Pirates.
Officials at the club have confirmed the news in a statement released on their website on Wednesday, July 27. Earlier, Warriors defeated the Pirates in the RFU Championship finals to secure their place in the 2011-12 Premiership season.
Worcester Warriors head coach, Richard Hill, has expressed his confidence that Betty has the skills and abilities to perform in the top level Premiership. He added, “He played particularly well against us when he came on in the second leg of the RFU Championship final. When Sam came on the Cornish Pirates looked dangerous and played very well in that final half an hour.”
Hill has praised the versatility of Betty, who can play at both openside and blindside flanker positions, his ball carrying and technical skills. He added, “Aggression is an attractive proposition to us and he is hugely motivated with a big work rate.”
Hill further added, “There is a need to ensure that we have six fit back row forwards going in the start of the Aviva Premiership. With that in mind, we have signed a very talented English back row in Sam Betty and we look forward to him joining up with the squad.”
Betty is the 13th signing by the Worcester Warriors in order to strengthen their squad for next season. Betty will join his former Pirates team-mate, Ben Gulliver, who has already joined the Warriors.
The Bristol born Betty was selected by the Cornish Pirates in 2005. He has made 136 appearances for the Pirates and his last appearance for Pirates came during their RFU Championships finals against the Warriors.
The 24-year-old back row forward will join the rest of the squad in their pre-2011/12 Aviva Premiership season training camp in Geneva. He will also participate in the Warriors pre-season warm-up matches against the Melbourne Rebels and Argentinean international rugby union team, Los Pumas.
Betty’s arrival has helped Warriors to strengthen their squad, particularly as their star flanker, Pat Sanderson, is yet to recover from his shoulder injury. Sanderson injured his shoulder during Warriors 2010/11 RFU Championship encounter against Bristol in March.
Providing the details on Sanderson’s injury, Hill confirmed that Sanderson is likely to miss the pre-season warm-up matches against the Rebels and Pumas. He added that Sanderson’s rehabilitation has taken longer than anticipated. However, he confirmed that he will not rush Sanderson for a pre-mature return from the injury.
Tags: