The Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Only a handful of Lions will be leaving the Den insists Moore

- By Bob French bob.french@jpress.co.uk

Talk of a massive clear-out at Peterborou­gh Lions following their relegation from the National League couldn’t be further from the truth according to Andy Moore.

The club chairman insists that only a handful of players have announced they won’t be turning out for the club in the Midlands Premiershi­p next season.

“The majority of our squad have said they want to come back and the majority of them we’d love to have back,” said Moore.

“At the moment there are only four of our regular players who I know are leaving Christian Edbrooke is going off to university in the South West somewhere, Will Nankevill is taking a year off, and Nico Defeo and Conor Gracey are joining Old Albanians.

“The only other possible departure I’ve heard about is Josh Waller probably moving to Canada. He’s been invited to play for a Canadian Premiershi­p club and is actively exploring ways of getting a visa.

“Other than that it’s as you were at the moment.”

Moore said he fully expects to make some ‘big name signings’ soon.

He said: “We’re close to getting a Tongan internatio­nal sevens player, we’re talking to a South African prop, and we’ve got our eye on one or two players frpm National One and National Two clubs.

“It’s a busy time for all rugby clubs. Good players are iffing and butting as they take a look at what offers are out there.”

The Lions completed their debut National Legaue Two North season with a 29-0 defeat at Wharfedale in North Yorkshire on Saturday.

“I was very disappoint­ed that we didn’t score,” said Moore, “because that was the only time we’d been nilled all season.

“But we battled hard and we matched them for long periods, showing once again that when we put our minds to it we are a National League side.

“It was only 15-0 until the last 15 minutes and once again we were compliment­ed by the opposition on our commitment.

“We’ve sampled life at Level 4 and we liked it. We believe that’s where we belong and it’s now about putting a side together to get us back up there and making sure we stay up.”

 ?? PICTURE: MICK SUTTERBY ?? Lions head coach Vili Ma’asi is pictured with the three Lewis brothers - Tom, Jack and Martin - who played in the last game at Wharfedale.
PICTURE: MICK SUTTERBY Lions head coach Vili Ma’asi is pictured with the three Lewis brothers - Tom, Jack and Martin - who played in the last game at Wharfedale.

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