DEVON hooker Chey Bryce is likely to remain at Tamar Saracens for the whole of the 2017/18 season.
Bryce joined the Ernesettle-based side as head coach earlier this year. Saracens were looking for coaching help following the departure of Stuart Busfield and Bryce was unable to play after suffering a serious knee injury while at Brixham.
The 26-year-old, who started his career as a youngster in Plymouth Albion’s development team before moving on to Taunton and then Brixham, has since had an operation on his knee, but he is happy to recover at Saracens.
The Mount Tamar School teacher admits he is enjoying coaching the city side.
“I love it,” he said. “I am a PE teacher and it’s about trying to be a coach rather than a teacher, but it’s good.
“I’m trying to bring my knowledge from the higher leagues to the boys here.
“A lot of the boys at Sarries have played a lot of rugby for many years and it is difficult sometimes to teach people new tricks, however, the boys are working hard and they are understanding it.”
Rather than just watch while he was out injured, Bryce wanted to remain heavily involved in rugby.
He admits he is still some way off returning to playing and when he does he is likely to turnout for Sarries in Devon One to recover his fitness.
“I only had my ACL operation 13 weeks ago, so I am a long way off playing rugby,” he said.
“And I really enjoy Tamar Saracens and the ethos at the club. It is really nice to see.
“Brixham are a very family orientated club, but I’ve come down to Tamar Saracens and they are same. That’s nice to see and be involved in.
“I think I will see this season out and then assess my options after that.
“You can never say you are definitely going to be doing this or that because you don’t know what is around the corner, but I am enjoying my time at Tamar Saracens.
“My vision is that come Christmas time, hopefully, I will be able to get a couple of games under my belt for Sarries and see the season off. Then look to see what my options are the follow season.
“Maybe I will have a full pre-season at another club or have another year at Sarries. You just don’t know what is around the corner. I might get injured again, you don’t know.”
Bryce is hoping he can have a positive impact at Tamar Saracens, who are aiming to recover from a tough debut season in the Cornwall/Devon League that saw them relegated with just two wins to their name.
They have made a number of new signings the summer and are optimistic about the new season.
They enjoyed an encouraging 10s outing last week against Devonport Services and Plymouth Argaum and they will continue their build for their Devon One campaign this weekend when they make the short trip over the Tamar to take on Saltash at Moorlands Lane in a pre-season friendly.