Graham Dawe
NEW ZEALAND hooker James Penman appears set to commit his future to Plymouth Albion.
The former Cambridge front-rower joined Albion towards the end of last season and featured in their final three matches.
However, although Penman seems likely to stay at Brickfields, having remained in the city since the end of the season, fellow hooker Ted Stagg is leaving.
Stagg did sign a two-year contract last summer when he joined Albion from London Scottish, but Plymouth have agreed to release him from it so he can sign for a Championship club.
“He will be a big loss,” said Albion’s director of rugby Graham Dawe. “But he had an overwhelming desire to stay in the Championship so we came to a mutual agreement.
“A contract is a written agreement but a player’s wishes have to be paramount.”
Surprisingly, Stagg’s contract did not include a release clause in the event of relegation.