Fylde RFC sign up five youngsters for the new season

Powerful prop Matt Ashcroft looks set for a more prominent role following the retirement of Adam Lewis.

The 20-year-old former Kirkham Grammar School pupil made 25 appearances in his first two seasons with the club, gaining North Under-20 selection along the way.

Backrower Ben O’Ryan, 24, played in Northern Ireland and Australia before joining Fylde in 2018.

A product of Blackpool RUFC, O’Ryan represented Lancashire and Irish Exiles at Under-18 level, then Ulster as a U19 and U20.

Scrum-half Adam Lanigan stepped up from the seconds in 2018-19 to deputise for the injured Cam Crampton and did so again last season, playing in every game.

Like Lanigan, Tom Forster is a product of the club’s mini-juniors who went from AKS to study sports science at university in Leeds.

The versatile back spent three years with Preston Grasshoppers before returning to the Woodlands in 2018. He has managed 16 appearances despite a broken jaw in his first season back and has represented Lancashire U18s.

Hooker Drew Stephenson, 20, played in Singapore and for Blackburn RUFC before joining Fylde last season. He is a Lancashire Under-20 player and has made six senior Fylde appearances.

Head coach Warren Spragg (left) said of the five: “Matt has served a good apprenticeship under Adam Lewis’ wing and is looking forward to stepping up to make the number three shirt his own. This is a great opportunity for him to show that he is ready to be a main player.

“Ben is a great character who has been a really good squad member. Injury held him back a bit last year but hopefully he will be back to his best and pushing into the squad on a regular basis.

“Adam improved massively last season and became a really important part of the team. The competition with the new arrival of Matt Sturgess this year will push him to keep getting better.

“Tom is an intelligent player with a strong all-round skill set and I hope he can consistently push his way into the matchday squad this season.

“Drew is improving all the time due to the quality of players around him. He did a good job whenever he was called on last season and I’m sure he will continue to develop into a quality player.”