Coventry Rugby boss Alex Rae has fitted another piece into his squad jigsaw with the signing on a season-long loan of Ealing prop Elliot Chilvers.
The highly-regarded 22-year-old is already in pre-season training at the Butts Park Arena ahead of Cov's August 19th pre-season friendly against visitors Leicester Lions.
Chilvers has been on the books at Ealing since joining the club three years ago while completing a degree at Brunel University.
During this time the loose head prop spent a season on loan at Cov's Championship rivals London Scottish where he picked up valuable game time and experience in English rugby's second tier.
The Ipswich product spent his formative years in Northampton Saints' junior academy and has also spent time playing club rugby in Australia with Sydney's Northern Suburbs.
Chilvers becomes the second promising Ealing youngster to pen a long-term loan deal with the Blue-and-Whites following Rae's summer acquisition of Welsh second row Rhys Anstey.
Cov's head coach expressed gratitude to Ealing counterpart Ben Ward before going on to welcome Chilvers to his playing squad.
“Thanks to Ben and Ealing for placing their trust in us to develop one of their young players,” he said.
“It's great to welcome Elliot to Coventry – he's a talented young prop who just needs to play and develop. He's fitted in really well and we're looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Chilvers joins Toby Trinder as a specialist loose head prop while another ex-Trailfinder Harry Seward and Eliot Salt are set to contest the tight head berth. In addition, the versatile Ollie Andrews is able to operate on both sides of the front row.
Cov's competitive season begins with a much-anticipated September 9th Butts Park Arena clash with Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens in the newly-launched cup competition and Chilvers can hardly wait.
“The cup competition is especially exciting and I'm really hoping to be involved against Sarries so I can test myself against the very best,” he said.
“I had a few injuries last season and also spent some time in Australia. I'm looking forward to getting back into regular rugby so when the opportunity came to play some rugby at Cov I was very keen to take it.
“Training has been really enjoyable so far and I am living in a house with some of the other lads which has been a bit chaotic but lots of fun.”
Get your Coventry 2023/24 season membership here: https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/membership/
Written by Paul Smith
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