NEW Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock is delighted to be back involved with rugby.
The former OPMs coach has taken over the reins at Sandy Park this summer after Tavistock were relegated from Western West last season.
It has been a while since he was last involved with a rugby club on a regular basis.
“I have had a little bit of time out – mainly just sorting my health out,” he said. “I had to have a kidney transplant and had all sorts of issues.
“My wife gave me a kidney, so we worked through it together, but life has changed a bit.
“But I am back to the stage where I can finally be involved again.”
He added: “Tavistock are a very supportive club and have been helping me step back in gently.
“They are all nice lads and very welcoming, which helps.
“I am pleased to be involved with them. Tavistock have always been a club to be respected.”
Tavistock were relegated to Counties Two Devon after winning just three league games in Western West last season.
However, Puttock does not want to describe this coming campaign as a re-building season.
“I just see it as a side-step,” he said. “There is definitely the foundation of the club there. There are some great youngsters and some great old heads as well who still want to be involved.
“I don’t think we will have any problems moving forward again.
“The problem we have in this area is that we are not in Plymouth, so we have to make Tavistock more desirable – and hopefully that is what we are going to be doing.
“We’ve had a few Royal Marines join us and a few guys move back into the area.
“We are going under the radar a little bit at the moment, but I quite like that.
“We have had good numbers at training and the way we are working is having lots of ball in hand and just getting guys to enjoy being back at the club.
“We’ve been having around 30 at training, which is massive when you consider we didn’t get a lot of second team fixtures last year.
“We are really hoping to get a few more second team fixtures this season and give guys opportunities to step on the field. If the first team are playing, then all our second team fixtures will be videoed so that players get in front of my eyes.
“Last year was tough, but the club didn’t fall apart and everyone stayed together. To do that in a season when you know you are probably going down is a big thing. The players will be better for that.”
The main reason for Tavistock’s struggles last term was down to availability issues, particularly away from home.
“There will be less travelling this year and that should help,” said Puttock.
Tavistock will open their season with a home match against Plymouth Combination rivals Devonport Services II on September 6 before they visit Dartmouth the following week.