By Paul Smith 
Coventry Rugby have received a major boost with the confirmation that Tongan World Cup star Pat Pellegrini plus former England flanker Matt Kvesic and experienced lock James Tyas will again be part of their squad next season.
Back-to-back top-three finishes have thrust Cov into the spotlight as title contenders for 2024/25, and a lot of this progress has been down to a group of players that really buy in to the ethos created by head coach Alex Rae plus his coaching and support team.
According to Rae, continuity in playing personnel is an important ingredient in building on foundations laid during the last two seasons so knowing these three leading figures are on board is therefore hugely significant.
“It’s great to have Pat on board again,” he said. There’s not many fly halves who play the way he does. He’s played a huge part in the way we want to attack and entertain people.
“His work ethic and desire to become even better is really impressive and on top of all that he cares deeply and is a fantastic person.
“We also feel very lucky to have a player and person of Matt’s calibre.
“The way he conducts himself day to day is a great example to our younger players of what a true professional looks like and his performances have been really consistent this season.
“Since James arrived he’s been one of the most consistent performers who every week gives everything he’s got and sets a brilliant example.”
“He’s obsessed with getting better every day and is exactly the kind of person we want to be working with and is very much someone for younger players to look up to.”
Pellegrini’s 2023/24 Coventry campaign began slightly late due to his call-up by Tonga for a World Cup campaign in which he scored a memorable try against double World Champions South Africa.
Since returning to the BPA the fly half has continued to produce the form that earned him international honours, finishing the Championship campaign as the league’s top points scorer.
He has also created and finished any number of thrilling tries with the trademark sidestep and explosive pace that make him such a favourite with the Butts Park faithful.
Kvesic joined the blue-and-whites a year ago and has since gone on to be one of the Championship’s most consistent performers.
Operating in all three back-row positions, the 32-year-old has started 22 of his club’s 25 competitive games this season.
In addition to his breakdown skills and powerful ball carrying, Kvesic has brought invaluable experience to Rae’s young squad.
Experienced second-row forward Tyas, has signed a new contract that extends his stay at the Butts Park Arena into a fourth year.
A measure of Tyas’ importance to the blue-and-whites is that he has started 22 games this season. Indeed, all 61 of his Coventry appearances to date have been as part of the run-on line-up – a very rare feat indeed.
The details of Tyas’ on-field contribution only tell half the tale however, since he is also in charge of the club’s analysis team via his company Pro View and is responsible for running Cov’s lineout.
Tyas said he is delighted to extend his stay in the West Midlands in a player-analyst role within which he has really thrived.
“I’m already really excited about the future,” he said.
“We have made progress every year and after talking to Alex (Rae) and Nick (Johnston) their plans for next year are something I really want to be involved with.
“Working with our coaching group has taken my game to another level – I feel challenged and pushed by them to keep improving.
“I believe I have a few more good years in me and want to spend them seeing just how far we can go as a club.”
More announcements will follow regarding the make-up of the 2024/25 squad.
Season memberships for 2024/25 are available via this link: https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/membership/
