MALVERN RFC have been dealt a double blow after it emerged influential duo Ieuan Mustow and Jonathan Bywater are set to be out of action until the new year.
The pair have played an important role for the Spring Lane outfit who are looking to avoid successive relegations.
But head coach Nick Tisdale revealed Bywater sustained a shoulder injury against Hereford, which he believes will keep the talented lock out for two months, while skipper Mustow is unlikely to return to the club until January as he bids to join the Royal Marines.
The Malvern boss said they would be missed, but he insisted there were enough leaders in his side who could fill Mustow’s boots.
“Ieuan Mustow won’t be able to play until the second week in January as he wants to be in the Marines, so he is doing his training and exams, which is quite a big loss,” Tisdale said.
“There is other people who can step into captain the club as we have got some experienced players like Alan Keylock and myself, while we have got James Hynes who has played for England u21s and Ryan Watkins has skippered us before, so captaincy is not a problem, it is just the player we will miss. He is a quality player and gives 100 per cent every time.”