GRAHAM DAWE believes Nile Dacres and Jon Dawe can both develop at Plymouth Albion.
As predicted, 23-year-old forward Dacres has joined Albion from Championship side Moseley, while 21-year-old Cornwall winger Jon Dawe has made the switch from Launceston.
Dacres made his mark as a teenager with Worcester and scored against Plymouth in the British & Irish Cup in January 2011.
However, his career at Sixways did not take off as expected and a loan spell at Rotherham and then a switch to Stourbridge followed.
He impressed for Stourbridge in National Two, scoring 13 tries in the 2013/14 campaign, and was signed by Moseley. He made 23 league and cup appearances for the Birmingham-based club last season, 11 as a replacement.
Albion boss Dawe said: “Nile is an athletic and agile player in the back five of the scrum.
“He still has an appetite to develop as a player and hopefully he can make the best use of his talents in the coming season.”
He added: “All players develop at different speeds. He was obviously a talented youngster and he’s still got that ability in him. We need to try and create positions to try and make use of his pace and ability on the ball.”
Dacres has mainly played in the second-row or at six, but Dawe has not ruled him out trying to use his pace at eight.
“It’s just about trying to get the balance of the team right, but his position is open for debate,” said Dawe.
“We know the ability and qualities he’s got, but it’s about how the rest of the squad pans out in the next few weeks which might decide his position.
“We might look to develop him as a number eight or seven, but it’s all about the balance,” said Dawe, who successfully switched players like Dan Ward-Smith, Andy Perry and Brett Luxton around to fit them into the pack.
Dacres is certainly relishing the chance to work with former England international Dawe at Albion.
“I am excited to be joining Plymouth Albion and working with Graham Dawe,” said the player.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere playing in the game for Moseley at Brickfields. The club has got great support and I look forward to playing in front of those supporters and aiming to gain promotion back to the Championship.”
Meanwhile, youngster Jon Dawe is far less experienced. He only made his Launceston league debut in January and only started seven games for them.
However, Albion boss Graham Dawe, who is not related despite them same surname, saw something in him playing for Cornwall in the County Championship.
“I did not see him play for Launceston, but I saw him play for Cornwall and he’s definitely got some great parts about his game,” said Albion’s director of rugby.
“He’s certainly got a lot of potential and we are looking to develop him.
“Technically he’s good in and around the tackle area, he’s also aggressive and got pace. He’s got a lot of good things that a winger/centre should have.
“Yet I think he’s got to learn his trade as a winger first but he has got the ability to play in the centre as well.”
The player said: “Moving to Plymouth Albion will give me the opportunity to play a higher level of rugby which will help my development.
“I only got into the (Cornish) All Blacks first team at the end of January and then progressed to the Cornwall side.
“Things have moved forward fairly quickly but I’m already looking forward to next season.”
Jon Dawe is not the only Cornwall player set to join Albion this summer. It is expected another member of the successful County Championship winning squad will be confirmed within the next few days.