Charalambous on Scottish mission
After aiding the club's survival bid last term, London Scottish new signing Rhys Charalambous is hoping to use the final three games of last season as the building blocks for a mid-table finish this term.
Versatile prop Charalambous, who can play on both sides of the front row, joined the Londoners from Bristol Bears on loan and helped the club secure wins over Hartpury University, Richmond and Nottingham for the club's great escape.
Charalambous, 23, who has now signed for the club permanently, is hoping history doesn't repeat itself and the club can instead hope for a mid-table finish away from the threat of relegation.
He said: “I'm excited to be joining. I enjoyed my loan spell towards the end of last season even though it was a daunting task that we had to win the three games to stay up.
“I played quite well and I'm looking forward to getting back into it and starting where I left off. Hopefully we don't have the same this year where we're fighting for survival, we want to be solidified and work our way towards the top half of the table.
“I'd like to represent the club as much as I can and stay injury free. I've always been lucky with injuries and I hope that continues. It's easy to play well for three games at the end of the season but it's about doing it for the whole season and we need that from everybody to stay up and compete.”
Charalambous was part of a mass exodus this summer at Bristol, having failed to make an appearance for the first team.
The Premiership's financial squeeze is putting a worrying amount of top-flight players out of work and Charalambous feels fortunate to be one of the lucky ones that has signed a contract.
He said: “It's tough, I don't think any of the Premiership teams turn a profit which isn't surprising.
“If you own a rugby club you don't own it because you want to make money, you own it because you love the sport and have got to be prepared to take the losses. It's a great shame and the saddest thing is for the players, staff and coaches who are out of a job.
“I've been quite lucky to play for London Scottish and secure something early doors because with London Irish also going down, there will be some of their players available on the market on the cheap. It's a weird time, we just have to hope it gets better.”
Despite being frustrated at not making a first team appearance, Charalambous – from Norfolk with half-German and half-Greek Cypriot heritage – enjoyed his year inside Pat Lam's environment at Bristol and says it'll benefit his rugby career in the long run.
He added: “It was a tough environment, if you're not at your best every day then you won't find yourself in the first team.
“It was hard but I learnt a tremendous amount, especially the small details. It's a shame I couldn't get the game time to show what I learnt. I've made some fond memories and friends for life there.
“I learnt loads about rugby and what I'm like in that environment. The motto on the wall at Bristol is you leave a better rugby player and a better person, and I definitely feel like I have.”
