THURROCK have had a major shake-up of their coaching team ahead of the new London 1 South season.

The club have appointed a new senior coach, forwards and specialists coach, skills coach and strength and conditioning coach - with a host of pedigree appointed to senior positions.

Martin Jones joins Thurrock having recently left his role of Director of Rugby at Southend Saxons.

He and club Co-Director of Rugby Steve Putz have coached together at both Saracens and Barking. The new senior coach has also had spells at Barking and Westcliff among others, with significant knowledge of national and local rugby.

Forwards and specialist coach Jim Evans used to play for the club and is an academy Head Coach at Harlequins - for whom he represented 174 times.

Evans coached Harlequins’ U18s side to the U18s Academy Premiership final victory last season, with six of that winning team now involved with the academy.

Tom Worsfold has played over 60 times for the first XV and has already started with a pre-season fitness routine for the players.

Worsfold took a step away from playing last season following a possible recurrence of the concussion he experienced the previous year. He is leading the challenge of improving the fitness and motivating the men’s squad to ensure they are amongst the fittest in the league this season.

New skills coach Sally Tuson will continue to play for Thurrock and Essex ladies while developing her coaching skills.

Tuson has also played Premiership rugby for Bristol and Saracens.

>Thurrock begin at Sevenoaks, and then host Westcombe Park, who dropped from London & SE Premier last year.