New Milton & District Rugby Club is celebrating the appointment of former Ellingham & Ringwood coach Alan Steel as assistant coach ahead of the club’s bid to return to the RFU Counties 1 Hampshire league

New Milton & District Rugby Club has appointed former Ellingham & Ringwood coach Alan Steel as assistant coach and head of strength and conditioning.

Having coached Ellingham & Ringwood for 10 seasons – delivering two promotions in the last three years – the New Forest club shocked local rugby when they let him go at the end of last season, writes Ed Baker.

New Milton, who Steel played for as a youngster, quickly snapped him up to work alongside head coach Gavin Evans.

Together, they aim to take the first team back into the RFU Counties 1 Hampshire and build on that success from there.

Steel, a sports lecturer and head of rugby at Brockenhurst College said: “It’s like coming home, really.

“I played for New Milton as a youngster and did several seasons in senior rugby, and my step-father, Neil Waltier, was a first-team captain, then chairman and president.

“New Milton is a sleeping giant, and I was surprised at how good the infrastructure is, and there is a lot going on in the background. The foundations are superb.”

He added: “When Ringwood let me go, I was a bit surprised, having delivered two promotions in three years with a great coaching team.

“After all the hard work the players and coaches put in, getting the club to its highest ever playing position, not to have a crack at coaching the team at regional level was really disappointing.

“But Gavin was on the phone straight away asking me to join him at New Milton – I went to meet him and agreed.”

Steel concluded: “Working at Brockenhurst College, I have already coached some of the players, and there is a lot of talent.

“We are looking for new players of all ages and standards, and I am extremely excited for the season ahead for all the teams.”

New Milton & District RFC club president Phil Hoyle said: “Securing Alan’s services is a real coup; he has a superb reputation in local rugby circles.

“We were amazed that Ringwood let him go, but their loss is definitely our gain.

“The club has put in great coaching teams for our men’s first and second teams, and the whole club is preparing for a great season.”

Hoyle added: “We have rugby for boys, girls, men and women of all ages and standards, and we always welcome social members.”

For more information about the club, contact sponsorship@newmiltonrugbyclub.co.uk