By Paul Smith 
Coventry Rugby has reinforced its position as the natural home for elite-level rugby in the West Midlands while announcing next season’s playing squad.
The club’s fully-professional approach and Championship status have in recent years positioned it in the upper-ranks of English club rugby.
And now Cov take the next step into an exciting new era through plans to source and develop a higher proportion of playing talent from the local region and as a result proudly reinforce their West Midlands identity.
According to Chief Executive Nick Johnston this model seeks over a period of time to position Coventry as the natural go-to location for playing talent in the region.
“We have set ourselves the objective that 60 per cent of our senior playing squad will eventually originate from the West Midlands,” he said.
“This will of course take time. Our recent investment in an academy, the international pro rugby combine and in identifying talent from around the region was the first step on this journey and the shape of our squad for next season moves us further down the same road.
“In Alex Rae we already have a Coventry product as head coach plus a number of players with West Midlands roots. Now our recruitment – especially in a much bigger senior academy group – adds to this local core and over time we intend to expand this into the club’s dominant identity.
“In a way this takes us back to the future as Coventry’s glory days in the 1950s, 60s and 70s were built on a network of strong rugby-playing local schools and junior clubs.
“But it also embraces what we currently see in professional sport around parts of Europe where clubs mobilise a really strong regional identity and as a result great success stories are written.
“I know it sounds ridiculous to make the comparison, but we can look at the Basque model where football clubs like Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao have thrived by relying solely on talent from the Basque region. We’ve seen similar success in rugby too, with teams like Biarritz and Bayonne achieving great results by following the same philosophy.”
“Only when you start really looking across professional and semi-professional rugby in the UK do you begin to notice how many players have roots in our region. Becoming the natural home for this talent is our objective.”
Now established at Championship level after seven seasons back in English rugby’s second tier, Cov seek to challenge the best while providing thrilling entertainment for the club’s much-valued supporter base.
The 2025/26 squad therefore blends experience and proven quality with some exciting new signings who it is hoped will bring a sprinkling of stardust.
Returning Players:
Jordon Poole: The inspirational club captain and try-scoring hooker enters his sixth season at the Butts Park Arena.
Toby Trinder: Another BPA stalwart, Cov’s popular loose-head prop and stand-in skipper became the first player in almost five years to pass the 100-cap mark during late 2024.
Senitiki Nayalo: The Fijian-born British Army no.8 extends his stay in Coventry into an eighth season.
Tom Ball: The workhorse back-rower has been almost ever-present in 2024/25. Approaching the century mark in Cov colours since graduating from the club’s academy, Ball’s durability and reliability mark him out as a player of the highest quality.
James Martin: Cov’s leading try-scorer this season is approaching the 50 career try mark for his club while also closing in on his 100th cap for his father’s former club.
Suva Ma’asi: A hugely popular figure with fellow players and fans, the all-action hooker has also filled in as a back-rower during the course of the current season.
Josh Barton: Cov’s only ever-present this season, the scrum-half who is in his second spell at the BPA recently passed the 50-cap mark.
Matt Johnson: Another player in his second stint in blue-and-white, the tight-head prop will be the cornerstone of Cov’s scrum for another year.
David Opoku-Fordjour: A product of Coventry’s Bluecoat School, the pacy winger has produced some stand-out displays this season.
Tommy Mathews: This season’s leading points scorer has a strike rate of nearly 80 per cent from the tee.
Eliot Salt: The young tight-head prop enters his third season at the Butts Park Arena with almost 50 appearances to his name.
Oli Morris: The exciting midfielder has scored four tries since returning from injury in the second half of the season.
Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti: Another player following in his father’s footsteps at the BPA, the powerful centre joined Coventry from Nottingham in 2024.
Chester Owen: The exciting no.8 has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign during which he has featured on 19 occasions.
Dan Green: The 20-year-old West Midlands product has impressed in the second row during his first season in professional rugby.
Coventry also confirm that to date the following players have joined the club:
Aristot Benz-Salomon: The 24-year-old loose-head prop joins from Hartpury after previously making appearances for Bristol and Gloucester.
Ewan Baker: The 20-year-old full-back who arrives from Northampton Saints is a product of Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby and Daventry RFC.
Jack Shine: After spending three seasons with Nottingham the 24-year-old powerhouse lock makes the switch across the Midlands.
Josh Thomas: A former Wales U20s fly-half, the 24-year-old who joins Cov from Dragons previously had spells with Ospreys and Newcastle.
Keston Lines: – The 25-year-old Chinnor loose-head prop is a local product who as part of Leicester’s academy spent time at Cov during the 2020/21 season.
Morgan Adderly-Jones: Joining from Gloucester’s academy, the 23-year-old centre has also represented Hartpury in the Championship.
Morgan Strong: The 24-year-old Welsh back-rower has previously represented Doncaster, Ampthill and Ospreys
Tom Bacon: The former Wasps academy and Ampthill full back, aged 24, joins from Sydney’s Northern Suburbs RFC
Tom Miles: The Coventry-born 22-year-old whose father Phil previously represented Cov as a scrum-half, arrives from Birmingham Moseley following spells at Loughborough University and Worcester.
Murray Davidson: The first product of the Coventry Rugby Pro Combine the 21-year-old hooker has previously played for Bishop’s Stortford and Hinckley.
Mackenzie Graham: Another who has impressed while on loan from Bath, the mobile back-five forward joins Cov on a permanent basis.
More signings to the first team squad may be announced during the summer.
Senior Academy:
Senior Academy Intake 2025
We are extremely proud to announce the club’s first Senior Academy intake, marking the conclusion of an outstanding 2024/25 season. These young men have all represented our U18 side this year and embody the quality and potential within our region.
Transitioning from the academy’s U18 side into senior training opportunities in recent weeks, they have worked hard and fitted in well under the guidance of Alex Rae and the senior coaching staff.
The challenge now is for them to become trailblazers — to work hard, transition into senior rugby, and forge a path for next season’s graduates to follow.
Joe Johnston (Fullback) Leamington RFC’s own, Joe is a Coventry local and lifelong fan who co-captained our U18 side this season. A tenacious full-back with outstanding aerial ability and a well-rounded skill set. A product of Leamington RFC and North Leamington School, aged 18.
Taio Varndell (Winger) This caps off a brilliant season for our electric U18 finisher. Taio crossed the whitewash in every game he played and his pace and footwork are set to continue lighting up Butts Park Arena. A product of Coalville RFC and BMC, aged 17.
Sam Gibson (Tighthead Prop) Sam combines a hunger for scrummaging with relentless work rate and powerful carrying ability. A highly promising young tight-head who grew throughout the U18 programme and has recently impressed in senior training. Still only 17, we look forward to watching Sam’s journey continue. A product of Longton RUFC and BMC, aged 17.
Sam Harding (Lock) A breakthrough season for the dynamic second-rower, Sam has balanced appearances for Kenilworth RFC 1st XV and Solihull School with real maturity. A lineout leader and all-action presence around the park. A product of Kenilworth RFC and Solihull School, aged 18.
Matty Thomas (Hooker) Matty has transitioned from centre to hooker, bringing explosive ball-carrying and line-breaking ability with him. He’s embraced the positional switch with enthusiasm, and we’re excited by his ongoing development as a front-rower. A product of Daventry RFC and City of Oxford College, aged 17.
Harry Ingram (Inside Centre) Harry began with Camp Hill RFC and has developed through some of the country’s top rugby environments, including Bromsgrove School, Midlands West, and Hartpury College. A truly triple threat — capable of carrying, kicking, and connecting play. A product of Camp Hill RFC and Hartpury College, aged 17.
Drew Johnson (Flanker) An abrasive, hard-hitting back row forward with huge influence on both sides of the ball. Drew had a standout U18 season and also contributed to our victorious U23 side earlier in the year where he underlined his potential as a leading local prospect. A product of Daventry RFC and City of Oxford College, aged 18.
Will Smith (Flanker / Lock) Will captained Leicester Tigers U18s and led Denstone College at the Global Schools Challenge, which included fixtures against Grey College (SA). A late addition to our U18 campaign, Will has impressed while on trial and earned his place in the Senior Academy with all-action displays in our senior setting. A product of Lichfield RFC and Denstone College, aged 18.
Leavers:
Coventry express gratitude to the players who depart at the end of the current campaign and wish them every success with their future lives and careers.
The club hopes supporters will join them in providing a big send-off for these players at the final home game of the season against London Scottish on Saturday May 31st.
Aaron Hinkley (27 appearances to 16/5/25), Charlie Robson (19), Daniel Okeke (11), Fin Ogden (19), Jake Henry (5), James Tyas (80), Jevaughn Warren (21), Liam Richman (14), Matt Kvesic (38), Obinna Nkwocha (40), Rhys Anstey (35), Ryan Hutler (46), Steff Davies (4), Theo Mannion (11), Tom Hitchcock (27), Vilikesa Nairaiu (33), Will Biggs (40), Will Lane (54), Logan Trotter (6)
