By Brian Dick, Coventry Telegraph.
March 19 2013

COVENTRY have agreed a deal that will keep ball-carrying back-rower Jacques Le Roux at the club next season.

The South African-born Portuguese international has made a solid impact since joining from Agronomia last summer.

During his first campaign at Butts Park the powerful No. 8 has played 13 times, including 11 starts, and scored four tries in what has been an increasingly impressive body of work.

That was until he broke his arm playing for his adopted country last month, an injury that is likely to have ended his first year at the club.

It has not, however, ended his Blue and White career and the 28-year-old is working towards returning for 2013-14 and inspiring Cov to a promotion challenge.

“I always wanted to stay at Coventry,” Le Roux revealed. “I am delighted they are willing to keep me.

“I know I haven’t been playing much this season but I’ve had a few good games and hopefully I can look forward to having a lot more.

“I am pretty excited about making a bigger impact next season. My loyalties lie with Coventry next season and I think we have a really good chance of getting promoted. I’d love to do as much as I can to be part of that.”

One of the issues uppermost in Le Roux’s mind could be the extent of his involvement in future Portugal squads. It will hardly have escaped the club’s attention that he was injured on international duty.

For now though, rugby director Phil Maynard, is pleased to have retained the dynamic forward who becomes the third player to sign on for next term following Cliffie Hodgson and Tom Poole. Key players like Scott Morgan and Greg Evans will be in their second year of two-year contracts.

“Although we haven’t seen as much of him as we’d like, what we have seen is that Jacques can be a force in National One,” Maynard said.

“His ball-carrying is a big asset for us and before he got injured he was starting to show he is developing in other areas of his game too. But building a squad is also about signing the right type of people and we know from the way Jacques conducted himself during a period of personal grief earlier this season, that he is the sort of person we want at Coventry.”

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Portugal international Jacques Le Roux extends Coventry stay

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 19/03/2013 16:19

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
19/03/2013 16:19

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Cliff Bennett
19/03/2013 19:49

This is extremely good news. Not only has Jacques endeared himself to the club and its supporters, he has been such a stalwart performer and contributor to the better efforts of Cov on the field.
We're delighted to have your commitment for next season Jacques.

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Geoff Kennedy
19/03/2013 21:46

I echo all those sentiments. It is time Jacques' name went on the International board. He has shown tremandous character on 2 occasions. Firstly when handling the tragedy which befell his family and then returning to offer support to his teammates following his unfortunate injury. he will play a key role in our efforts next season along with Cliffie and Tom.

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Spookykid
21/03/2013 13:02

Great news, always a pleasure watching Jacques play, he was awesome before his injury.

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