Services and Oaks add forwards to their squads ahead of new season

DEVONPORT Services and Plymstock Albion Oaks have strengthened their squads for the 2019-20 season with new forward additions.

South West One club Services have added former Newton Abbot and Plymouth University lock James McQuillan, while Cornwall/Devon League outfit Oaks have announced the signings of Calum Mills and Adam Walker from city rivals Plymouth Argaum and former Ivybridge colts prop Luke Austin.

Utility player Mills and young second-row Walker are the latest in an ever-growing list of players who have moved to Oaks from Argaum. Walker will join his older brother, Joe, at Horsham Fields after he made the same move midway through last season.

Meanwhile, Services after announcing three back additions last week have bolstered their pack options with the arrival of 6ft 5in forward McQuillan.

Devonport head coach Mike Lewis felt his team did lack a bit of size in some games last season and that McQuillan’s arrival will offer them a different dimension to their play.

Lewis said: “We needed that bit of depth in the second-row department. We have got a lot of players who are six and eights who can play second-row but hardly any out-and-out second-rows and they are the spine of the team.

“We are really excited about having James on board. When we coached the university side he was a regular starter and he will bring that physicality to the side being 6ft 5in.”

McQuillan, who since graduating has taken a job with Princess Yatchs, started his rugby career with Dorchester. He has spent the last couple of seasons at Newton Abbot. He featured in their first seven games last term but then after an injury he took a break from the game. However, he is now looking forward to getting stuck in at Services.

“I just want to get that love of the game back and I just want to be playing,” he said.