The former Coventry and Pertemps Bees player masterminded not only the club’s return to Western Counties North in his first season as head coach, but delivered both senior teams to the Stroud and District Combination Cup finals. The success attracted a lot attention from other clubs, but Sam has chosen to remain with Stroud.

Sam said ‘we played a great style of rugby last season that saw us move the ball around and there was great attacking prowess. Western Counties is an important step to South West division 1 and the belief that I have is that we can achieve that at Stroud. It is a step by step process, it just doesn't happen overnight.'

Sam's playing career includes Stroud, Coventry, Pertemp Bees, Stourbridge, Rugby Lions Gloucestershire, and Ireland Students, and more recently was player coach of Southern Counties North Club, Milton Keynes, before re-joining the playing staff at Stroud in 2012.

The club is also pleased to announce that Rupert Foote will continue in his role as 1st XV Manager and Rob Davey as Nomads team manager. Rob Cantle, continues to chair the senior playing operations group.