Coventry lock Andy Weaver enjoys his rise up rugby pyramid


By Brian Dick, Coventry Telegraph
April 8 2011

COVENTRY lock Andy Weaver admits he is surprised at how quickly he has progressed up the rugby pyramid.After a shaky start to the season, the 22-year-old has established himself as an important player in the Blue and Whites line-up with his high work-rate and solid grasp of the basics.

With second row partner Sam Herrington struggling with a toe injury, the former Barkers Butts forward has even started running the Coventry lineout – an area which flourished in Saturday’s defeat to league leaders London Scottish.

That marks just the latest step in a rapid rise from the junior ranks, through a season at Rugby Lions and into National One, a leap of four levels in just two years.

“I am surprised at how quickly it has gone.” Weaver said. “I did not expect to be playing for Coventry so early, I knew I could get to this level eventually – and maybe even higher – but it’s come fast. I’d played for Warwickshire for the last few seasons but that’s only three matches.

“My plan is to stay for at least another year – especially with the way the end of the season has gone. We are a young squad that is starting to gel.

“I am pleased with the last month. Stepping up a level was a bit daunting at first, you are not sure of the systems you are playing in and it’s difficult to build up confidence.

“But when you get a few games under your belt you realise you can play at this level and you take confidence from that.”

Weaver has had to be patient, though. Having played the first three matches he lost his place to Nick Southern who converted from back row.

After that he only made two more starts in the rest of the year but 2011 has seen him make cement his place in the team. Weaver has started ten of 13 matches since then and is growing into an important part of an increasingly dominant pack.

And he credits his time out of the side for much of that progress. “It was frustrating because it was something I was not used to but the competition can only be a good thing,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have got any better if I’d carried on playing like I was in the first three weeks. Maybe sitting on the bench was what I needed to improve my performances.

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Coventry lock Andy Weaver enjoys his rise up rugby pyramid
Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 08/04/2011 08:07
Unofficial Coventry Rugby
Unofficial Coventry Rugby
08/04/2011 08:07
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