The club has announced six new additions to the senior squad for the 2025/26 season. They include four prop forwards, one second row player and a centre/fly half. The front row recruits are headed by Harry Drane, from Welsh Super League side Pontypool, and he is joined by Dutch Under 20 international Maik Timmerman, Westcombe Park; Lewis Young, Saracens Academy and Carter Oliver, from Brighton. There will be fresh faces also in second row player Charlie Barker (Saracens Academy and England Under 19s} and utility back Luke Talbot, from Tonbridge Juddians, who is currently playing a leading role for Kent in their bid to win a third consecutive County championship title. Charlie and Lewis will join on season-long loans from Saracens.
Also on board is promising wing Harry Dean and the squad will be further boosted by the return of three long term injury victims, flanker Mo Pangarkar, prop Elliot Lusher and scrum half Cullen Daly. With the retirement of stalwarts Danny Herriott and Arron Cooper, Director of Rugby Taff Gwilliam has looked to add depth to his front row roster in view of the challenge faced by the Pilgrims side as they compete at Regional 2 level for the first time.
“We are delighted to have retained the whole of last season’s squad, retirees apart,” says Taff. “The new signings add depth and competition to our squad. With the Pilgrims now at level 6 it was paramount that we strengthened. Luke Talbot and Maik Timmerman are experienced at National 2 players with the potential to improve further. Harry Drane has been playing regularly at a very high level in Wales. The fact that Lewis Young and Charlie Barker are in Saracens senior Academy players speaks for itself. Carter Oliver is an investment for the future who goes alongside some talented home grown youngsters we have coming through such as Owain Collins, Max Campbell, Aiden Demery, Ollie Jordan Smith, Isaac Devine and Andrew Thomas to name but a few.
An exciting season is in prospect”